Clarkia gracilis subsp. sonomensis

Family: Onagraceae · Type: annual · Native

Sonoma clarkia is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern San Francisco Bay Area in woodland and forest openings at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate plant produces pink-lavender flowers shading to white with a distinctive red spot near the center of each petal, measuring 20 to 40 millimeters across. Growing with slender stems typical of its genus, the plant develops a delicate, upright form characteristic of annual clarkias. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, complementing the plant's graceful structure. The flowers feature an exserted stigma that extends beyond the anthers, creating an elegant botanical display.

Habitat: Openings in woodland, forest

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoR, n SnFrB

California counties: Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Humboldt, Mendocino, Marin, Colusa, Solano, Glenn

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