Godetia, Rocky Mountain Garland Flower, Farewell-to-Spring
In most catalogs the gardener will find “Clarkia” (Rocky Mountain Garland Flower, Farewell-to-Spring) and “Godetia” (sometimes called Farewell-to-Spring also) listed as separate flowers. Indeed, they bear little resemblance to one another. and godetia was formerly a distinct genus; but both are now considered hybrids of species from the same genus, Clarkia.
Godetias produce clusters of upward-facing cup or funnel-shaped blossoms with contrasting margins and centers. The flowers, 1 to 3 inches wide, resemble azalea blossoms, and appear on strong stems ideal for cutting. They are widely grown commercially for cut flowers.
Those flowers usually referred to as clarkias concentrate their showey blossoms in the axils, where branches join the main stem. Their blossoms can be either single or double and look like many tiny ribbons that have been fancifully cut and gathered. Both species reach 18 to 24 inches in height.
Both clarkias and godetias will perform best, and flower the longest, in regions where the summers are dry and cool. They bloom, in shades of pink, purple, red, and white, from summer to frost in optimum climates, for a shorter time where summers are hot and wet. In their native habitat they complete their life cycle on the gradually decreasing moisture from stored winter rain or snow melt. In the South and hot-summer regions of the East and Midwest, the protection of light shade and successive plantings 30 days apart may help to achieve a longer bloom season.
Both clarkias and godetias are musts for any cutting garden, but they are also excellent choices for large beds, mixed borders, and planter boxes. Their requirement for perfectly drained soil makes them naturals for the rock garden.
Soil must have excellent drainage and should be light, sandy, and of low fertility. Give these plants light shade to full sun. Clarkia grows well in coastal and high-altitude areas where the nights are cool. Good success, although a shorter season, can also be enjoyed from spring sowing in the plains states. Do not overwater; allow the plants to dry out between waterings.
