Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera
Four-spot, Four-Spot
Photo: parent species Clarkia purpurea · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera (Four-spot) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by most widespread subspecies, small petals and non-exserted stigma.
Four-spot clarkia is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province in open, grassy or shrubby places at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces lavender to purple or dark wine-red flowers with distinctive purple spots near the middle or toward the flower's edges, typically 10 millimeters long. Growing with generally erect stems, it develops slender, narrow plants reaching modest heights. Its leaves are linear to lance-shaped, 1.5 to 5 centimeters long and tapered to a sharp point. The flower's unique color pattern and delicate structure make it a charming addition to California's wildflower landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 68 sympatric species; most widespread subspecies, small petals and non-exserted stigma help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open, grassy or shrubby places
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Calaveras, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Lake, Amador, Orange, Tulare, Fresno, Mariposa, Trinity, Butte, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Monterey, El Dorado, San Francisco, Siskiyou, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Santa Barbara, Glenn, Tehama, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, San Benito, Madera, Nevada, Humboldt, San Joaquin, Plumas, Shasta, Sutter, San Mateo, Yolo, Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, Alameda, Placer, Yuba, Colusa, Alpine, Del Norte, Lassen, Merced, Sacramento, Sierra, Modoc
Bloom period
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera blooms Apr-Aug.
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 purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera native to California?
Yes. Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera bloom?
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera grow?
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera occurs in Calaveras, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera belong to?
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
What habitat does Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera grow in?
Clarkia purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera grows in Common. Open, grassy or shrubby places.
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.