Clarkia lewisii

Lewis' clarkia

Family: Onagraceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Lewis' clarkia is a California native annual found in the central coastal and northern southern Coast Ranges of Monterey and San Benito counties in coastal scrub, woodland, and chaparral at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bowl-shaped flowers with pink-lavender petals shading to white near the middle, accented by a purple-red base and red-purple flecks. Growing erect with stems up to 50 centimeters tall and appearing puberulent or glabrous, it has a delicate, upright form. Its narrowly lanceolate leaves measure 2 to 5 centimeters long, with petioles less than 7 millimeters in length. The distinctive flowers feature 8 stamens with outer lavender anthers and inner smaller, paler anthers, creating an intricate floral display.

Habitat: Coastal scrub, woodland, chaparral

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: < 300 m

Bioregions: CCo, n SCoR (Monterey, San Benito cos.).

California counties: Monterey, San Benito

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