Clarkia Flower Care: How To Grow Clarkia Flowers

Image by Tom Brandt

By Jackie Carroll

Clarkia wildflowers (Clarkia spp.) get their name from William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He discovered them on the Pacific Coast of North America and brought back specimens when he returned. They didn’t really catch on until 1823 when another explorer, William Davis, rediscovered them and distributed the seeds. Ever since, clarkia has been a staple of cottageand cutting gardens.

Clarkia plants grow to between 1 and 3 feet tall and spread 8 to 12 inches. Clarkia flowers bloom in summer or fall, and sometimes in winter in mild climates. Most flowers are doubles or semi-doubles and have frilly, crepe-like petals. They come in a wide range of colors.

Clarkia flower care is a snap, and once you plant them in the garden there is very little to do but enjoy them. These pretty wildflowers look great in many garden situations. Consider growing clarkia in cutting or cottage gardens, mass plantings, wildflower meadows, borders, containers or on the edges of woodlands.

How to Grow Clarkia Flowers

You probably won’t find cell packs of clarkia at the garden center because they don’t transplant well. Gardeners in warm areas can plant the seeds in fall. In cold climates, plant them in early spring. Sow the seeds densely and then thin the plants to 4 to 6 inches apart.

If you want to try starting the seeds indoors, use peat pots to make transplanting easier. Sow seeds four to six weeks before the average last frost date. Press them onto the surface of the soil, but they need light to germinate so don’t bury them. Once the seeds come up, find a cool location for them until they are ready to transplant outdoors.

Care of Clarkia Plants

Clarkia wildflowers need a location with full sun or partial shade and very well-drained soil. They don’t like overly rich or wet soil. Water regularly until the plants are established. Afterward, they are very drought tolerant and don’t need fertilizer.

Clarkia sometimes has weak stems. If you space them 4 to 6 inches apart, they can lean on each other for support. Otherwise, stick a few twiggy branches into the soil around the plants while they are young for support later on.