Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna
Photo: parent species Clarkia concinna · (c) Roger Raiche, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by prominent petal lobes separated by deep sinuses and stigma exserted beyond anthers.
Clarkia concinna is a California native annual found in northwestern California, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, and eastern San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland Hills, Mount Diablo) in mixed-evergreen forest, woodland, and coastal scrub at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces pink to magenta flowers with prominent petal lobes separated by deep sinuses, each petal 15 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with slender upright stems reaching 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms delicate branching structures. Its leaves are narrow and lance-shaped, arranged alternately along the stem. The flower's distinctive feature is its deeply lobed petals, with sepals remaining fused only near the tip, creating an intricate and elegant bloom.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 42 sympatric species; distinguished by prominent petal lobes separated by deep sinuses and stigma exserted beyond anthers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mixed-evergreen forest, woodland, coastal scrub
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Lake, Trinity, Humboldt, Yolo, Mendocino, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Marin, Butte, Napa, Alameda, Colusa, Tehama, Siskiyou, Santa Clara, Solano, Glenn, Shasta
Bloom period
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna blooms Apr-Jul.
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 subsp. concinna native to California?
Yes. Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna bloom?
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna grow?
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna occurs in Lake, Trinity, Humboldt, Yolo, Mendocino, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Marin and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna belong to?
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna grow in?
Clarkia concinna subsp. concinna grows in Mixed-evergreen forest, woodland, coastal scrub.
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.