Clarkia amoena
As the Latin name suggests (“amoena” meaning charming or pleasing), Farewell-to-Spring is a spectacularly showy addition to native gardens and wildflower meadows. This annual wildflower boasts pink, cup-shaped flowers with long bloom times that provide pollen and nectar for native bees and butterflies after other plants have gone dormant.
- Plant type/canopy layer: annual herbaceous plant, herb/ground layer
- Size at maturity: 24"-36" tall, 12"-18" wide
- Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade
- Moisture requirements: dry to moist soil
- Bloom time: June - August (depending on moisture availability)
- Growth rate/ease: moderate growth rate, easy to grow
- Wildlife support: attracts and supports honey bees, native bumblebees, mason bees, leaf-cutter bees, and butterflies
- Native habitat/range: Common in meadows, vernal wetlands, and coastal areas from the Pacific coastline eastward into the lower Cascades, from British Columbia to California. Portland Plant List - yes.
- Special features & uses: pollinator gardens, attracts hummingbirds, meadowscapes
Gardening with Farewell to Spring: This beautiful wildflower prefers fully to mostly sunny sites with well-drained soil of average fertility. Although it is an annual, it will readily reseed itself if planted in a favorable location.
Seed Sowing instructions: Scatter seed on loose-weed free soil between September and November or in March so that seeds will benefit from seasonal rains. If sowing in April or May, seeds will benefit from supplemental water to encourage strong growth and blooms the first year. Lightly rake the seeds in to increase seed-to-soil contact, but be careful not to cover the seed with more than 1/4" soil. Each seed packet contains approximately 200 seeds.
Photo Credits: "Clarkia amoena" by StephanieFalzone is licensed under CC BY 2.0