by Avril Defleurey

Created on: April 20, 2010

Clarkias, once known as Godetias and commonly called ‘Farewell to spring’ are annual flowering plants; of which there are numerous varieties. Among over forty onagracea are the most common Clarkia ‘Elegans’, ‘Lenella’, ‘Pulchella’ and ‘Omoena’. Although these vary in either flower shape or size slightly, all varieties of clarkias are sown in the same way. They may be grown in beds, borders, rockeries (rock gardens), barrels, tubs and even hanging baskets. They have regularly been cultivated for use in cottage gardens.

Sow after the last frost in late spring, ideally in a position which is in full sun or partially shaded. Clarkias prefer well drained, sandy, loam. Sow the seeds by sprinkling lightly onto the surface of prepared soil. Do not bury the seeds as they need plenty of light to germinate, use a piece of board to gently but firmly press the seeds into the surface of the soil then water lightly avoiding washing the seeds away. Water twice per week for the first month; reduce to once per week thereafter depending on rainfall. They need to be kept moist but not soggy.

Clarkia seeds take between seven and fourteen days to germinate. Once the seedlings reach six inches in height pinch out the top leaves to encourage sturdy growth and thin out to nine inches apart. Flowering usually takes place from July to September, approximately ninety days after sowing. Alternatively sow seeds in early autumn under cloches in the bed or border where they are to flower for early flowering plants the following year.   Although Clarkia tolerates dry soil they do not like extreme heat. In the event of plants being in full sun during a long hot summer, spread mulch (grass cuttings or bark are ideal) to a depth of about one to two inches around the base of the plants to retain moisture.

There are some basic differences in the above mentioned varieties - Elegans and Lenella differ from the Omoena only by their size and abundance of colours. Elegans, Lenella and Omoena differ from the Pulchella by the shape of their flowers. Pulchella plants consist of a single flower with three lobed petal lips but the others grow with multiple clusters of flowers on each plant and have more petals. Where Omoena can grow to a height of three feet with flowers of up to four inches across, the other varieties grow up to two feet with flowers of up to one and a half inches across. Omoena variety are limited to four colours – pink, red, lilac and white. Elegans, Lenella and Pulchella however, range from purple, mauve, red, pink, salmon, and orange to white.

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