Fairy Fans
Clarkia breweri
Care
full sun, part shade
low
0–0ft tall
Mar-May
Friendly
Prized
Chaparral foothills of the Sierra Nevada and southern San Francisco Bay Area from Kern County to Santa Clara County, 1000-3500 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Fairy Fans in full sun where it will get direct light most of the day. Since this is a rare California native from chaparral and woodland habitats, it prefers well-draining soil - avoid heavy clay or areas that stay wet. Space plants about 12 inches apart to account for their compact, under-8-inch mature height. Spring is your best planting window to give the plant time to establish before summer.
After Planting
Water weekly during the first growing season to help your plant establish, then transition to low water once it's settled in by mid-summer. Fairy Fans bloom March through May and will naturally decline as temperatures warm; this is normal dormancy, not a sign something went wrong. The biggest mistake Bay Area gardeners make is overwatering - this plant evolved in dry chaparral, so err on the side of too dry rather than too wet.
Wildlife Supported
Insects
early spring pollinator of Clarkia species in California foothills
spring bloom season nectar source for emerging lepidopterans
primary nectar foragers during Clarkia breweri bloom period
spring bloom pollinator, pollen collection during flowering
spring bloom period pollinators and flower visitors
Birds
year-round resident, seeds important in fall-winter diet
seed foraging in fall and early winter in grassland habitats
post-bloom seed consumption during fall migration staging