Clarkia lassenensis
Lassen clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia lassenensis (Lassen clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by short pedicels and densely hairy 8-grooved ovary distinctive.
Lassen clarkia is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in woodland and conifer forest at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink-lavender flowers shading lighter toward a red-purple base, with bowl-shaped petals 8 to 16 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems up to 90 centimeters tall that are lightly hairy, it has a delicate, slender form. Its leaves are narrow and linear to lance-shaped, measuring 2 to 5 centimeters long with petioles less than 1 centimeter. The fruit is a slender capsule 2.5 to 4 centimeters long with a short 2-millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; short pedicels and densely hairy 8-grooved ovary distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 500-2000 m
California counties: Shasta, Trinity, Plumas, Modoc, Siskiyou, Lassen, El Dorado, Alpine, Sierra, Mendocino, Tehama, Glenn
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Clarkia lassenensis blooms May-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 lassenensis native to California?
Yes. Clarkia lassenensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia lassenensis bloom?
Clarkia lassenensis blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Clarkia lassenensis grow?
Clarkia lassenensis occurs in Shasta, Trinity, Plumas, Modoc, Siskiyou, Lassen, El Dorado, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 500-2000 m.
What plant family does Clarkia lassenensis belong to?
Clarkia lassenensis is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia lassenensis grow in?
Clarkia lassenensis grows in Woodland, conifer forest.
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.