Clarkia imbricata
Vine hill clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Clarkia imbricata (Vine hill clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by conspicuously veined hypanthium and large distal spot distinctive.
Vine hill clarkia is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges of Sonoma County in clearings and roadsides at elevations around 50 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces lavender petals shading paler near the middle with a distinctive large wedge-shaped purple-red spot at the petal tips. Growing to less than 60 centimeters tall with erect, glabrous or sparsely hairy stems, it has an upright habit with dense, straight-axis flower buds. Its leaves are lanceolate, 2 to 2.5 centimeters long with very short petioles or nearly no petiole at all. The flower's hypanthium is conspicuously veined and 10 to 15 millimeters long, with a bowl-shaped corolla featuring eight symmetrical stamens.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; conspicuously veined hypanthium and large distal spot distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clearings, roadsides, perhaps chaparral
Elevation: +- 50 m.
California counties: Sonoma
Bloom period
Clarkia imbricata blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
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 imbricata native to California?
Yes. Clarkia imbricata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia imbricata bloom?
Clarkia imbricata blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Clarkia imbricata grow?
Clarkia imbricata occurs in Sonoma, at elevations of +- 50 m..
What plant family does Clarkia imbricata belong to?
Clarkia imbricata is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
Is Clarkia imbricata rare or endangered?
Clarkia imbricata carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.