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 often associated with its cousin, the Clarkia, to which it is closely related.

Godetia niverti, botanical plate (circa 1850)

The genus includes around 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 expand the range of forms and colours.

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

The exuberant flowering, displayed in soft, fruity, and varied hues, is irresistibly charming, largely concealing the foliage. Exceptionally generous, it lasts from May to September, depending on the sowing date, and renews itself throughout the summer. The Godetia or Clarkia offers funnel-shaped flowers, single, double, or semi-double. They bloom at the tips 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, solid, bicoloured, or variegated, they offer an infinite range of vivid or pastel shades. The widely open throat is often maculate and enhanced with a coloured halo. Each flower appears hand-painted, and some fully double varieties resemble azalea blooms.

Clarkia unguiculata, Clarkia amoena and Clarkia pulchella

These satin flowers make excellent cut flowers for charming 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, which may produce self-sown seedlings in light soils.

Main species and varieties

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Sowing and Planting of the Godetia

Where to sow Godetia?

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

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

Plant this charming annual on balconies and terraces, in containers or pots. The excellent staying power of its flowers also makes it suitable for garden planting to create lovely ephemeral borders for perennial or annual beds, or to brighten flowerbeds and rockeries.

As it is a highly melliferous plant, it can also be sown in the vegetable garden to enhance 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 all 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 sowings until June to extend the flowering period.

Sowing 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, spaced 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

Sowing in pots

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

• In a 40cm-deep pot with drainage holes, add 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

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

Watering should be regular, especially during hot and dry weather, but not excessive as too much water can cause root rot. In pots, it will need more water as the substrate dries out faster than in the 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 a windy garden, stake taller cultivars. Regularly remove faded flowers to prolong flowering. Allow seeding if you wish for natural self-sowing.

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 just above.

Pair the bucket

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

In a grand summer romantic bed, with white or pink roses and lavateras as a backdrop, it pairs effortlessly with other charming annuals in white or pink tones like cosmos, Love-in-a-Mist, baby’s breath, snapdragons, and dahlias in similar delicate shades.

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

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

Godetia, Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’, Cosmos, Dahlias, snapdragons, Love-in-a-Mist and hollyhocks