Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena) is a native annual wildflower found primarily in western North America. Its range extends from British Columbia down through California and into parts of Mexico. Extremely adaptable, it can be found in a variety of sunny habitats, including meadows, grasslands, open woodlands, coastal bluffs, and disturbed areas.
 
A highly variable species with many subspecies, varieties, and cultivars, the delicate, cup-shaped flowers come in a range of patterns in shades of pink, white, and purple. The common name, "Farewell-to-Spring," reflects the plant's natural lifecycle and blooming period. The exact timing of the bloom season can vary slightly depending on the specific location and climate, but flowering typically heralds the end of spring. Farewell-to-Spring is a valuable source of nectar for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The siliques (seed pods) split open with the end of summer and provide a valuable late-season food source for small birds.
 
Farewell-to-Spring is extremely versatile, and equally effective in uses ranging from cottage gardens to coastal restoration projects. Depending on soil depth and moisture, plants can bloom at 6” in harsh conditions or over 3’ tall in deep loam soils. Seeds should be surface sown in place for the best results. Sowing in fall and overwintering seedlings will provide larger plants the following year, but early spring sowing is equally effective.