Godetia : sowing, cultivation, maintenance

Description and botany

[plant_sheet latin_name=”Latin name: Clarkia” family=”Family: Fabaceae” common_names=”Common names: Godetia, Satin flower” flowering=”Flowering: May-June to September-October” height=”Height: 0.20 to 0.70 m” exposure=”Exposure: Sun” soil=”Soil: Light, fresh, well-drained” hardiness=”Not frost hardy” bgcolor=”#f287c0″ alignment=”left” /]

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

Godetia niverti, botanical plate (circa 1850)

The genus includes around forty species. Alongside the widely grown Godetia (Clarkia amoena), which has produced 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, and bushy clump with a highly branched silhouette, 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 lance-shaped, with sometimes irregularly toothed edges.

The exuberant flowering, displayed in soft, fruity, and varied shades, 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, grouped in pendulous then upright clusters. They open into flared, trumpet-shaped flowers, 2 to 4 cm in diameter, composed of 4 silky petals (for single varieties), sometimes slightly ruffled, earning it the nickname “satin flower.”

White, carmine pink, peach pink, apricot, red, lilac, violet, solid, bicoloured, or variegated, they offer an endless array of vivid or pastel hues. The widely open throat is often spotted and highlighted 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 pollinators all summer long, particularly bees and butterflies, which delight in them.

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

Main species and varieties

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

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Sowing and planting of godetia

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 needs a sheltered spot 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, dry to moist but well-drained, and dislikes conditions that are too hot or too wet.

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

As it is a very nectar-rich 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 place, after all risk of frost has passed, for flowering from July to September. Sowing in March is possible in mild regions. Young godetia plants do not tolerate transplanting well, 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 place

• Prepare the soil well by loosening it to half a spade’s depth
• Sow in clusters of 2 to 3 seeds per hole, 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

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?

Growing 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 frequent watering, 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 growth, feed with a 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 blooming. Allow some to go to seed if you want the plant to self-sow 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—nothing could be simpler by following our sowing advice just above.

Pairing godetia

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 prolific flowering allows for interesting pairings with many other annuals or perennials. It ensures a beautifully blooming season! It’s easy to incorporate into natural or naturalistic gardens, country gardens, English cottage gardens, or romantic gardens. It adds a rustic charm to any composition.

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

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

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

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