For People Who Love To Garden

The Plant Guide

Godetia
  Clarkia amoena
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Godetias provide one of the more varied shows in flowerdom, with a wide range of colors and combinations, mostly in reds, whites, and pinks. They bloom in early summer, and if conditions are right, can continue through the summer. They prefer a cooler climate, and resent hot or excessively wet summers.

Seeds sprout easily, but grow slowly if conditions are overly cloudy or otherwise unsatisfactory. This one really does need to be thinned, as it tends to put energy into height when crowded. Stems are fragile and may require staking.

For a colorful treat and a great plant for cutting, godetia is worth a try.

Vital Statistics
Type: Annual Water: moderate to infrequent
Zone: Sun: full or part sun
Height: 12-18" Soil: ordinary, well-drained, sandy
Starting: Sow outdoors in early spring, barely covering seeds. Xenia Fields says thin aggressively to avoid 'legginess.' Growing: Prefers a cooler climate and part sun. Where summers get hot, this one may languish but will almost certainly bloom at least once in early summer.
Etymology: clarkia = named for Captain Clark of Lewis and Clark; amoena = 'pleasing'
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