Punch Bowl Godetia
Clarkia bottae
Care
part shade, full sun
low
Fast, Medium, Slow; Adaptable. Tolerates saline soil.,Tolerates sodic soil..
3–3ft tall , 0–0ft wide
Mar-May
Friendly
Prized
Central California foothills and grasslands from Kern County to Stanislaus County, typically 500-2000 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Punch Bowl Godetia in fall or early spring in a spot with full sun or partial shade. This Bay Area native is remarkably adaptable to different soil types - it tolerates fast, medium, or slow drainage and can even handle saline or sodic soils, so don't overthink the soil prep. Space plants to avoid crowding, since this annual self-seeds reliably and will return year after year if given room to drop seed.
After Planting
Water weekly during the first growing season to establish the plant, then taper off to a maximum of twice monthly once established - this is a low-water plant that thrives on neglect. Let it flower through spring (March to May) and resist the urge to deadhead if you want it to reseed for next year; the #1 mistake is overcrowding established plants, which will choke out seedlings and prevent natural regeneration. Once temperatures drop below freezing, the plant will naturally die back as an annual, and you can leave seed heads in place for spring germination.
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Wildlife Supported
Insects
Host plant for endemic Clarkia-associated lepidopteran larvae
Early season nectar source for colony establishment
Fungal pathogen; ecological role in plant population dynamics
Pollen foraging during nesting season