Clarkia williamsonii

Common Names

Fort Miller Clarkia, Fort Miller Fairyfan

Summary

Fort Miller Clarkia is an annual herb native to California, especially the northern and central Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows erect to about 3 ft tall with linear to lance-shaped leaves and produces showy four-petaled flowers in spring to summer; petals are lavender with a white base and a purple patch near the upper edge, occasionally solid deep red. Stems are erect and lightly hairy; flowers attract bees and butterflies; it forms dry capsules with mature seeds and reseeds readily.

Grows best in full sun to partial shade with low water and well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils but does not tolerate heavy clay. It is drought-tolerant, deer resistant, and generally pest-free, though watch for foot rot and stem rot. Uses include borders, containers, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and self-sowing plantings; it can naturalize on rocky slopes or edges of rock walls.

Lifecycle

Annual

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

10-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 2-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, with partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic

Bloom Color

Lavender, White, Purple

Bloom Time

Spring through early Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and butterflies