Godetia Plant Info
What is a godetia plant? Godetia has a bit of naming confusion surrounding it. The scientific name used to be Godetia amoena, but it has since been changed to Clarkia amoena. To make things more confusing, it is frequently still sold under its old name. It is a species of the Clarkia genus, named after William Clark of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. This particular species is frequently also called the farewell-to-spring flower. It is an attractive and very showy annual flower that blooms, as the name suggests, in late spring. Its blooms are similar to those of an azalea, and they usually come in shades of pink to white. They are about 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter, with four equally sized and spaced petals. The plants tend to grow to 12 to 30 inches (30-75 cm.) in height, depending upon the variety.
How to Grow Godetia Plants
Godetia flowers are annuals that are best grown from seed. In cold winter climates, sow the seeds directly in the soil immediately after the last frost. If your winters are mild, you can plant your seeds in late summer or early autumn. The plants grow quickly, and should be flowering within 90 days. They need full sun, especially if you want them to start flowering as quickly as possible. Soil that is sandy, well-draining, and low in nutrients is best. The soil should be kept relatively moist until the plants begin to flower, at which point they become quite drought tolerant. Godetia flowers self-seed very reliably – once established, they will continue to come up naturally in that spot for years.
