Throughout spring, grassland rich open space preserves like Russian Ridge provide a dazzling display of wildflowers. Native species such as California poppies, tidy tips, and owl’s clover (just to name a few) add pops of color in the green grass during the spring.
As spring wildflowers fade from Bay Area preserves, one group of native plants continues to add color well into summer. Clarkias are an annual herb native to Western North America. Clarkias produce a delicate but vibrant color is shades of pinks and purple.
Spotting Clarkia while out hiking
Clarkia flowers vary slightly by species, but most have four broad petals, often in shades of pink, purple, or lavender. The petals can be solid, streaked, or spotted, sometimes with darker markings near the base. The plants themselves are slender, often growing one to three feet tall, and may form loose clusters.
They can often be spotted on trails across the region—from the sunny slopes of Russian Ridge to the oak and mixed evergreen trees of Pichetti Ranch Open Space. Look for them along the edges of fire roads, in serpentine soils, and in open meadows where the grasses haven’t completely dried out.
Clarkia species you can commonly see in the Bay Area
Ruby chalice clarkia
Also known as farewell to spring clark, the ruby chalice clarkia (Clarkia rubicunda) is also known as farewell to spring because it blooms in June and July in the Bay Area. Each flower has four broad petals, typically deep pink to magenta with a darker or reddish base, giving the bloom a “chalice” appearance. The plant grows 1–3 feet tall with slender stems and narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are often found singly along the upper portion of the stem.
Elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata)
Also known as woodland clarkia, elegant clarkia are often found in mixed evergreen forests and oak woodland areas.
Winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)
This species has deep reddish-purple to lavender flowers with heart-shaped petals. It tends to be shorter, around one to two feet tall, and is often found in drier, open habitats. Blooms come in shades of pink, purple, or deep wine red, often with a streak or spot of pink or red in the middle of each petal.
