Clarkia delicata

Delicate clarkia, Delicate Clarkia

Family: Onagraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Delicate clarkia is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in southern Peninsular Ranges in San Diego County, inhabiting oak woodland and chaparral at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces rose-lavender to pale pink flowers with distinctive orange-red outer anthers, petals 8 to 12 millimeters long in a rotate arrangement. Growing with erect stems up to 70 centimeters tall, it has a glaucous upper stem that is generally puberulent near the base. Its leaves are lanceolate to elliptic, 1.5 to 4 centimeters long with petioles less than 1 centimeter. The flower buds are uniquely reflexed, creating an elegant architectural profile in its native habitat.

Habitat: Oak woodland, chaparral

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 1000 m

Bioregions: s PR (San Diego Co.)

California counties: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.