Godetia Flowers

Godetia Flowers Photos And Facts

Name : Godetia Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Clarkia, (Clarkia amoena)
Godetia Description

The scientific name for Godetia is Clarkia amoena, (formerly Godetia amoena) is an annual flowering plant from the Onagraceae family, native to western North America, found in coastal hills and mountains from British Columbia south to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Common names for this lovely flower include Godetia, Clarkia, Satin Flowers, Farewell-To-Spring, Summer's Darling, Red Ribbons, Fairy Fans and Silk Flower. The flower gets the name Godetia from the Swiss botanist C. H. Godet. Whereas the name Clarkia amoena comes from Captain Clark (1770-1838) of Lewis and Clark expeditions and amoena means 'pleasing'.

Godetias produce satiny, cup-shaped blossoms in clusters at the tips of strong stems. The hardy Godetia somewhat resembles the anemone. Godetia flowers have four broad petals and are 2-3 inches in diameter. The leaves are slender and linear, about 2-7 cm long and 2-6 mm broad. Godetia has grey-green foliage and its height ranges from 10 inches to 2.5 feet, depending on the variety.

Godetia flowers are available in shades of white, pink, red, or lilac, and usually a deeper colour is found near the center of the flower, as if painted upon the petals. Double varieties are also available.

Clarkia or Godetia bloom in early summer and continue through the summer. Clarkia prefers a cooler climate, and resent hot or excessively wet summers. Water these plants moderately, and place them in full sun to partial shade. Godetia thrives in well-drained, ordinary, sandy soil. Godetias propagate by seed and don’t transplant well, so the seeds should be sown directly in the soil outdoors. Godetia flowers are available from March through August. Godetias can’t tolerate extremely cold temperatures and the blossoms can turn bluish or transparent in excessive cold.

Godetia flowers look great in flower beds and borders, they are perfect for rock gardens, and naturalize in open meadows. Clarkia may also be grown in pots to accentuate steps, porches and patios.

Taller species of the Godetia flower make excellent cut flowers with a vase life of 5-7 days. Godetias are ideal for garden-style arrangements, wedding bouquets and other soft, romantic designs. Godetias stand out because of their satin like texture and work equally well as both mass and filler flowers.

Two popular species are Godetia amoena, or Farewell-to spring that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and G. grandiflora, the Whitney Godetia, that grows only 6 to 12 inches tall and blooms from June to October.

Godetia Meaning

The lovely Gedotia symbolizes the meaning “Pleasing”.

Godetia Mythology