Godetia (farewell-to-spring) Clarkia amoena
Godetia (farewell-to-spring) (Clarkia amoena) is an annual flowering plant in the Onagraceae family, native to Western North America, from British Columbia to California. It grows 30–75 cm (12–30 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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Godetia (farewell-to-spring) at a glance
| Type | Annual flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Onagraceae |
| Mature height | 30–75 cm (12–30 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 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 10–13 weeks after planting, for 6–9 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 100 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Western North America, from British Columbia to California |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
Is Godetia (farewell-to-spring) 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 Godetia (farewell-to-spring)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Godetia (farewell-to-spring)
- How far apart should I plant Godetia (farewell-to-spring)?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–30 cm (8–12 in).
- Does Godetia (farewell-to-spring) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Godetia (farewell-to-spring) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Godetia (farewell-to-spring)?
- 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 Godetia (farewell-to-spring) flower?
- About 10–13 weeks after planting, for 6–9 weeks.
- Is Godetia (farewell-to-spring) 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 Godetia (farewell-to-spring)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Godetia (farewell-to-spring). 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.
- Satin, azalea-like cups in pink, salmon and white, often with a darker blotch. In its Californian home it blooms as the spring rains end, which gave it its wild name.
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
- Elegant clarkia (mountain garland) Clarkia unguiculata
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans