Clarkia davyi
Davy's clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia davyi (Davy's clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by prostrate habit and distinctive flower coloration.
Davy's clarkia is a California native annual found in northern coastal California, including the northern Coast Ranges, northern Coast Coast, and Santa Rosa Island, in coastal grasslands and bluffs at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate lavender-pink flowers shading to white or pale yellow, with fan-shaped petals 5 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with prostrate to decumbent stems less than 9 decimeters tall and sparsely puberulent, it has a delicate spreading form. Its leaves are nearly sessile with oblanceolate to elliptic blades 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, typically with an obtuse tip. The flower's distinctive bowl-shaped corolla and eight evenly sized stamens make this a charming coastal wildflower.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; key features are prostrate habit and distinctive flower coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal grassland, bluffs
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Del Norte
Bloom period
Clarkia davyi blooms Apr-Jun.
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 davyi native to California?
Yes. Clarkia davyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia davyi bloom?
Clarkia davyi blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Clarkia davyi grow?
Clarkia davyi occurs in Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Clarkia davyi belong to?
Clarkia davyi is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia davyi grow in?
Clarkia davyi grows in Coastal grassland, bluffs.
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.