3 named cultivars

annualN. America Native

Mountain Garland

Clarkia unguiculata

The Story

Plant Bio

Clarkia unguiculata, mountain garland or elegant clarkia, is a slender Californian annual eighteen to thirty inches tall on wiry reddish stems. Clawed four-petalled flowers in pink, salmon, purple or white are carried in the leaf axils up the length of the stem, opening from the bottom upwards through late spring and early summer.

It flowers on poor, dry ground and stops flowering on rich, well-fed ground, putting on leaf instead. That makes it useful where soil is thin and irrigation is limited. It resents transplanting, so sow it where it is to grow, and cut stems just as the lower buds open for a long vase life.

Uses & Benefits:

Spires of clawed pink, salmon and purple flowers opening upwards along wiry stems.

A long-lasting cut flower that thrives on poor soil with almost no watering.

A California native whose flowers are worked by native bees and hoverflies.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Annual

Height

24 inches

Width

15 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Low

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Annual

Native To

California

Toxicity

No significant toxicity reported

Planting

How to Grow

Sow direct in autumn or early spring where it will flower.
Cover the seed only lightly, about a sixteenth of an inch.
Choose full sun and well-drained soil; avoid heavy clay.
Thin seedlings to about nine inches apart.
Water sparingly once flowering begins.
Leave a few seed heads to self-sow for next year.

Pro Tip

Do not feed it. Rich soil and fertiliser give tall leafy stems with few flowers, which is the usual reason it disappoints.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Sow direct where it is to flower 🌱
Grow it on lean, well-drained soil 🏜️
Cut stems as the lowest buds open 💐
Let some seed heads ripen and drop 🌾

Don't

Feed it or plant it in enriched soil ❌
Transplant established seedlings ❌
Water it heavily once it is flowering ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest
Sow

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Annual meadow and wildflower sowingCutting garden rowsDry sunny border fronts

Companion Plants

California Poppy Baby Blue Eyes Tidy Tips Bachelor's Button Godetia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Mountain Garland questions

What zones can Mountain Garland grow in?

Mountain Garland is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Mountain Garland deer resistant?

Yes — Mountain Garland is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Mountain Garland bloom?

Mountain Garland typically blooms in late spring to midsummer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Mountain Garland need full sun?

Mountain Garland does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Mountain Garland drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Mountain Garland handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.