Clarkia virgata
Sierra clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Clarkia virgata (Sierra clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Sierra clarkia is a California native annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains from El Dorado to Tuolumne counties in yellow-pine forest and foothill woodland at elevations of 400 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces lavender-purple flowers with red-purple mottling or spotting, 8 to 15 millimeters long with diamond-shaped petals and distinctive blue-gray pollen. Growing with erect stems less than one meter tall and covered in fine soft hairs, it has an upright, delicate structure. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, with petioles 1.5 to 5 centimeters long and blades 2 to 5 centimeters in length. The flower's unique features include eight stamens with ciliate scales and a stigma that extends beyond the anthers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Yellow-pine forest, foothill woodland
Elevation: 400-1100 m
Bloom period
Clarkia virgata blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 virgata native to California?
Yes. Clarkia virgata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clarkia virgata bloom?
Clarkia virgata blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Clarkia virgata belong to?
Clarkia virgata is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
Is Clarkia virgata rare or endangered?
Clarkia virgata carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Clarkia virgata grow in?
Clarkia virgata grows in Yellow-pine forest, foothill woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.