Godetia
Clarkia amoena
Last reviewed: August 2026
Clarkia amoena is a low water forb that blooms from April through July, producing pink cup shaped flowers on coastal hills and grasslands. It grows best in full sun and attracts bees and butterflies.
Godetia (Clarkia amoena) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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Clarkia amoena is a colorful native annual with cup-shaped pink to salmon flowers that bloom from spring into summer. It grows in an upright form with lance-shaped leaves and produces abundant blooms that create eye-catching displays. This drought-tolerant plant is easy to grow and self-seeds readily.
Growing Godetia
Grow Godetia in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Godetia is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- May look untidy after blooming if not deadheaded
Wildlife value
The showy blooms of Clarkia amoena are excellent nectar sources that attract native bees and butterflies. Its prolific flowering period provides valuable resources for pollinators during spring and early summer.
Common questions
- When does Clarkia amoena bloom?
- Clarkia amoena typically blooms from April through July, with flowers appearing on upright stems as spring turns to summer.
- What pollinators visit Clarkia amoena?
- Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Clarkia amoena flowers, drawn to the open cup shaped blooms.
- How much water does Clarkia amoena need?
- This plant prefers low water once established and handles dry spells well, making it a good fit for sites that dry out over summer.
- What light conditions suit Clarkia amoena best?
- Full sun brings on the strongest flowering, though it can also grow in part sun or light part shade with somewhat fewer blooms.
- Is Godetia toxic to dogs?
- Godetia is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Godetia toxic to cats?
- Godetia is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Godetia HOA-friendly?
- Godetia is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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