Godetia: Sowing, Cultivation, Care

Description and botany

The Godetia, now called Clarkia and sometimes nicknamed “satin flower”, is an annual plant once very common in all flower gardens in North America. Godetia belongs to the Onagraceae family, just like gauras and fuchsias. Native to California, it grows spontaneously in meadows, forest edges, or rocky slopes. It is now related to the Clarkia genus, which means it is associated with its cousin the Clarkia, to which it is closely related.

Godetia niverti, botanical plate (circa 1850)

The genus includes about forty species, alongside the very common Godetia (Clarkia amoena), which has given rise to numerous cultivars. Another cultivated species is the Clarkia unguiculata (elegans) or elegant clarkia. The many varieties complement the forms and colour palette.

From a taproot, the plant forms a vigorous, upright and bushy clump with a highly branched silhouette, reaching an average height of 50 to 80 cm and a width of 30 cm in one season. There are adorable dwarf forms, very compact, not exceeding 25 cm in height. The foliage is dense. The slender, branched stems from the base of the clump bear small green leaves, alternate, elongated, elliptical, and lanceolate with sometimes irregularly dentate margins.

The exuberant flowering, displayed in soft, fruity and varied hues, is irresistibly charming, largely concealing the foliage. Exceptionally generous, it spreads from May to September, depending on the sowing date, and renews itself throughout the summer. The Godetia or Clarkia offers single, double or semi-double funnel-shaped flowers. They bloom at the ends of the stems, gathered in pendulous then upright clusters. They open into flared, turbinate trumpets, 2 to 4 cm in diameter, composed of 4 silky petals (for single varieties), sometimes slightly plicate, hence its nickname “satin flower”.

White, carmine pink, peach pink, apricot, red, lilac, violet, plain, bicoloured or variegated, they offer an infinite variety of vivid or pastel colours. The widely open throat is often maculate and enhanced with a coloured halo. Each flower seems painted, and some fully double ones resemble those of azaleas.

Clarkia unguiculata, Clarkia amoena and Clarkia pulchella

These satin flowers make excellent cut flowers for composing delightful bouquets and are highly prized in floristry.

Melliferous, this endless flowering attracts a great number of pollinating insects, bees and butterflies in particular, throughout the summer.

These inflorescences give way to capsule fruits that release numerous seeds at ripeness, capable of producing self-sowing in light soils.

Main species and varieties

[product sku=”84933″ blog_description=”A blend of silky flowers in varied colours, renewing themselves throughout the summer.” template=”listing1″ /]

[product sku=”775″ blog_description=”A very beautiful double-flowered cultivar producing numerous satiny salmon-pink flowers.” template=”listing1″ /]

[product sku=”84846″ blog_description=”A blend of silky corollas, either solid or variegated, displaying various rather soft hues.” template=”listing1″ /]

[product sku=”929″ blog_description=”This cultivar stands out for its homogeneous and bicolour flowering.” template=”listing1″ /]

Sowing and planting of the godetia bucket

Where to sow godetia?

The satin flower is a tender plant that will be grown as an annual in our temperate climates. Very floriferous and fast-growing, it requires a sheltered position away from wind to protect its brittle stems, and very sunny to flower well. In the south of our country, it will tolerate partial shade.

It prefers slightly acidic, loose soil, fresh to dry but well-drained, and dislikes conditions that are too hot or too humid.

Place this charming annual on balconies and terraces, in planters or containers. The excellent staying power of its flowers also allows for planting in the garden to create lovely ephemeral borders for perennial or annual beds, or to brighten flower beds and rockeries.

As it is a very melliferous plant, it can also be sown in the vegetable garden to improve the ecosystem and provide a supply of cut flowers.

Clarkia elegant and Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ (© Jkehoe Photos)

When and how to sow godetia seeds?

Godetia seeds are sown in spring, from April to May, directly in situ, after any risk of frost, for flowering from July to September. Sowing in March is possible in mild regions. Young godetia plants tolerate transplanting poorly, so direct sowing is preferable. Neither thinned nor transplanted, they manage on their own! Consider staggering your sowings until June to extend the flowering period.

Sow in situ

• Prepare the soil well by loosening it to half a spade’s depth
• Sow in clusters of 2 to 3 seeds per hole at 3mm deep, spacing them 25cm apart
• Add a good amount of compost to each planting hole and mix in some river sand to improve drainage
• Fill in and firm down
• Water
• Keep the substrate moist until germination

Clarkia pulchella

Sow in pots

For earlier flowering, you can sow indoors directly in pots or containers using good potting compost. This type of sowing is also possible outdoors after the last frosts.

• In a 40cm deep pot with drainage holes, spread gravel or clay pebbles
• Fill the container with a mix of seed compost, well-rotted compost and garden soil
• Sow thinly or in clusters of 3 seeds
• Water and keep moist until germination
• Move outdoors once all risk of frost has passed

→ Learn more in our tutorial: How to sow Clarkia?

Cultivation and care

Godetia is a highly floriferous and generous annual that requires very little care.

Watering should be regular, especially in hot, dry weather, but not excessive as too much water causes root rot. In pots, it will need more water as the compost dries out faster than in open ground. Always allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Apply mulch around the base to reduce evaporation.

During the growth period, apply a small amount of flowering plant fertiliser about once a month. Soil that is too rich encourages foliage growth at the expense of flowering, so use sparingly.

In windy gardens, stake taller cultivars. Regularly remove faded flowers to prolong flowering. Allow to set seed if you wish it to self-seed naturally.

In well-drained soil, the plant is resistant to diseases.

Clarkia rubicunda

Propagation

To propagate your satin flowers, you can collect the seeds to sow them the following spring – it couldn’t be simpler by following our sowing advice a little further up.

Pairing the bucket

With its trumpet-shaped flowers in fruity or soft hues, the Godetia is one of those essential annuals for pots, planters, summer beds or borders. Its floribundus nature allows for interesting combinations with many other annuals or perennials. It ensures a beautifully flowering season! It easily fits into natural or naturalistic gardens, country gardens and English cottage or romantic gardens. It adds a charming rustic touch to any composition.

In a large summer romantic bed, with white or pink roses and lavateras in the background, it pairs effortlessly with other charming annuals in white or pink tones such as cosmos, Nigella damascena, baby’s breath, snapdragons, and dahlias in similar soft tones.

Complete the scene with elegant airy perennials like asters, hollyhocks, or a Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ to create dynamic and long-lasting beds.

In a border, mix it with Ageratum, another annual with delicate lavender-blue flowering, petunias or a Celosia ‘Flamingo Pink’, perfect for adding vibrant colour to borders.

Godetia, Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’, Cosmos, Dahlias, snapdragons, Nigella and hollyhocks