Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) Clarkia unguiculata
Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) (Clarkia unguiculata) is an annual flowering plant in the Onagraceae family, native to California, USA. It grows 40–90 cm (16–35 in) tall and 20–30 cm (8–12 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
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Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) at a glance
| Type | Annual flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Onagraceae |
| Mature height | 40–90 cm (16–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 20–30 cm (8–12 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 10–13 weeks after planting, for 6–9 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 100 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | California, USA |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Elegant clarkia (mountain garland)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Elegant clarkia (mountain garland)
- How far apart should I plant Elegant clarkia (mountain garland)?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–30 cm (8–12 in).
- Does Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Elegant clarkia (mountain garland)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) flower?
- About 10–13 weeks after planting, for 6–9 weeks.
- Is Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Elegant clarkia (mountain garland)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Elegant clarkia (mountain garland). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Calflora: information on California plants, Calflora (non-profit database), Berkeley, California
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- A hardy annual: sow where it is to flower in autumn or early spring, thin the seedlings, and let some plants set seed.
- A cutting-patch flower: picking the stems often keeps new ones coming.
- Named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Spidery, clawed petals along reddish stems. Flowers best in lean soil and a cool summer.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Hardy fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica
- Missouri evening primrose (bigfruit evening primrose) Oenothera macrocarpa
- California fuchsia (hummingbird trumpet) Epilobium canum
- Godetia (farewell-to-spring) Clarkia amoena
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans