Clarkia – Elegant Purple

Mountain Garland (Clarkia unguiculata), also known as Elegant Clarkia, is a showy annual wildflower native to the western United States. Renowned for its tall, graceful flower spikes and long blooming period, this species is a favorite for wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens, and cottage-style borders. Closely related to Godetia (Clarkia amoena), it shares many of the same low-maintenance, high-impact traits.

The ‘Elegant Purple’ variety features vibrant to deep lavender-purple blooms, arranged in tiered whorls along tall, slender stems. This bold hue adds drama and depth to mixed plantings and pairs beautifully with pastels or silvery foliage for striking contrast.

Reaching 2 to 3 feet in height, Mountain Garland may benefit from light staking as it matures, especially in windy areas or when grown densely. It is highly adaptable and performs well across USDA zones 1–11, particularly in temperate climates with cooler evening temperatures.

Flowers open sequentially from the base to the tip of the stem, producing a stunning vertical display and providing a long blooming season. It also makes a fantastic cut flower—cut stems when the lower blossoms are just opening, leaving upper buds to bloom over time in the vase.

Plant Mountain Garland in full sun to partial shade in low-nutrient, well-drained soil, especially soil low in nitrogen. Like its Godetia relatives, overly rich soil will encourage foliage growth at the expense of flowers. It is not well-suited for arid or humid climates and prefers cool, dry air.

Mountain Garland does not transplant well and should be directly sown outdoors. In zones 7–10, fall planting allows the plants to establish and bloom in spring. In colder zones, sow in early spring, just after the last frost.

With its elegant purple blooms and natural vertical grace, this variety of Mountain Garland adds a touch of richness and sophistication to any native wildflower garden or floral arrangement.

**For larger quantities than listed for sale please contact us for availability and pricing.

The broadcast rate for seeding is 4 – 5 pounds per acre.

The seed drill rate for seeding in rows is 2 pounds per acre.