Clarkia xantiana
Gunsight clarkia
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Clarkia xantiana (Gunsight clarkia) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family.
Gunsight clarkia is a California native annual found in rocky or disturbed habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to red-purple flowers with distinctive two-lobed petals and a small white-centered spot on the upper petals. Growing with erect, glaucous stems up to 80 centimeters tall, it has a slender, delicate form. Its narrow leaves range from 2 to 6 centimeters long, linear to lanceolate in shape, with minimal or no leaf stalks. The flower's unique petal structure features two-lobed petals with a thin tooth between the lobes, creating an intricate and delicate bloom.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all other Clarkia species
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, San Bernardino, Butte, Ventura, Placer
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 xantiana native to California?
Yes. Clarkia xantiana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Clarkia xantiana grow?
Clarkia xantiana occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, San Bernardino, Butte, Ventura and other counties.
What plant family does Clarkia xantiana belong to?
Clarkia xantiana is in the Onagraceae family, genus Clarkia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Clarkia xantiana subsp. parviflora — Kern canyon clarkia
- Clarkia xantiana subsp. xantiana
- Clarkia affinis — Chaparral clarkia
- Clarkia amoena — Farewell-to-spring
- Clarkia amoena subsp. amoena
- Clarkia amoena subsp. huntiana
- Epilobium anagallidifolium — Alpine willowherb
- Epilobium brachycarpum — Annual fireweed
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.