Wildflowers of the United States

Pinkfairies, Ragged Robin, Deerhorn Clarkia, Beautiful Clarkia - Clarkia pulchella

Family: Onagraceae - Evening Primrose family

Genus Common Name: Clarkia

Native Status: Native

Dicot Annual Herb Leaves:Alternate Leaves:Simple

Clarkia pulchella - Pinkfairies, Ragged Robin, Deerhorn Clarkia, Beautiful Clarkia. The Clarkia genus contains 41 species. While most of the species are found only in California, Clarkia pulchella is the only one not known in California, and was found by Meriweather Lewis in what is now Idaho in 1806. It was first described by William Clark in May of that year. It was the first species described in the genus, which was later named for William Clark. Clarkia pulchella is found in 6 northwestern states and has disjunct populations in 4 eastern states. While the USDA Plants Database shows Pinkfairies as native to these eastern states (OH, MA, CT, VT), these are likely instead a result of plants brought back from the west, since it would have been known prior to 1806 if it was native to those eastern states.

My initial identification of this species was using the excellent book Idaho Mountain Wildflowers by Scott Earle.

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Distribution of Clarkia pulchella in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Valley County, Idaho Date: 2010-June-17	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Pinkfairies, also known as Ragged Robin, is quickly identified by the distinct dark pink petals, each of which has 3 lobes. In C. pulchella the center lobe is twice as wide as the outer lobes, while in the similar species Clarkia concinna the three lobes of the petals are of equal width. (C. concinna is found only in California.)

Site: Valley County, Idaho Date: 2010-June-17	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D60 1/320f/14 100 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro 90mm (135 equiv)
A distinct feature of Clarkia pulchella is the pistil, which looks like a small white, multi-petaled flower unto itself in the center of the blossom. The white pistil is accompanied by 4 purple-pink stamens. There are also 4 shorter cream white stamens which you can see in the background in this photo. A very unique flower structure.
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Site: Valley County, ID Date: 2010-June-17	Photographer: Cindy Williamson
Clarkia pulchella is a usually leafy, branching plant (may be unbranched) that grows to about 2 feet tall. The leaves are linear to spatulate, up to about 3 inches long, and little reduced in the upper part of the plant.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Site: Valley County, ID Date: 2010-June-17	Photographer: Cindy Williamson
The fruit / seedpods of Ragged Robin are shown here dangling in the left side and right third of the photo. They appear to me to be somewhat similar in shape to okra.
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References used for identification and information:

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Clarkia pulchella initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-06-23; Updated 2018-06-22

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302