Clarkia concinna
Red ribbons
(c) Roger Raiche, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia concinna (Red ribbons) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by long hypanthium, 3-lobed petals, 4 stamens, and red sepals.
Red ribbons is a California native annual found in coastal and northern California regions in open woodlands and grassy areas. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright pink flowers with white streaks, each approximately two times longer than wide with three oblanceolate lobes. Growing to 40 centimeters tall with erect, glabrous or slightly hairy stems, it develops delicate lanceolate to elliptic leaves 1 to 4.5 centimeters long on slender 5 to 25 millimeter petioles. Its distinctive flowers feature deep red sepals that remain fused and petal-like at their base, creating an elegant and intricate bloom structure. The slender flower hypanthium ranges from 10 to 25 millimeters long, adding to the plant's graceful appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 55 sympatric species; key features are long hypanthium, 3-lobed petals, 4 stamens, and red sepals
Habitat and range
California counties: Colusa, Lake, Marin, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino, Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Glenn, Napa, Yuba, Tehama, Humboldt, Santa Clara, Trinity, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Yolo, Santa Cruz
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Clarkia seeds lack a hair tuft and its petals are broad, often clawed or lobed; Epilobium and Chamerion have seeds bearing a tuft of silky hairs and long, thin capsules.; vs Oenothera: Clarkia flowers are pink to lavender-purple and its buds nod before opening; Oenothera flowers are generally yellow (or white), larger, and open at dusk.; vs Camissonia: Clarkia petals are pink-purple, often fan-shaped or lobed with a distinct claw; Camissonia and Camissoniopsis have yellow, unlobed petals.; vs Sidalcea: Clarkia has 4 petals, an inferior ovary, and a 4-lobed stigma; Sidalcea (checkerbloom) has 5 petals, a superior ovary, and a central mallow staminal column.; vs Gayophytum: Clarkia is showy with petals 10-35 mm; Gayophytum has minute white-to-pink flowers only a few mm across on thread-like branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarkia concinna native to California?
Yes. Clarkia concinna is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Clarkia concinna grow?
Clarkia concinna occurs in Colusa, Lake, Marin, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino and other counties.
What plant family does Clarkia concinna belong to?
Clarkia concinna is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.