Clarkia epilobioides
Canyon clarkia
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia epilobioides (Canyon clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by small white flowers and ungrooved ovary distinctive.
Canyon clarkia is a California native annual found in the central and southwestern coastal bioregions in shady woodland and chaparral sites at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers fading to pink, with delicate 5 to 12 millimeter obovate petals arranged in bowl-shaped blossoms. Growing with erect stems up to 70 centimeters tall and sparsely covered in fine hairs, it develops linear to narrowly lanceolate leaves typically 15 to 25 millimeters long. Its leaves have short petioles less than 7 millimeters long, with interesting recurved flower buds that hang pendently from the stem. The flower's sepals often display a reddish hue and remain fused in groups of four or two, with eight stamens creating a distinctive structural arrangement.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species; small white flowers and ungrooved ovary distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally shady sites in woodland, chaparral
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Mateo, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Stanislaus, Mendocino, Kern, Fresno, Lake, Trinity, San Benito
Outside California: to Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Clarkia epilobioides blooms Apr-May.
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 epilobioides native to California?
Yes. Clarkia epilobioides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia epilobioides bloom?
Clarkia epilobioides blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Clarkia epilobioides grow?
Clarkia epilobioides occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Clarkia epilobioides belong to?
Clarkia epilobioides is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia epilobioides grow in?
Clarkia epilobioides grows in Generally shady sites in woodland, chaparral.
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.