Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring) in Zone 6a & 6b
Clarkia unguiculata
Yes, clarkia (farewell-to-spring) grows in zones 6a and 6b. Start seeds indoors Mar 28–Apr 4 and plant out Apr 4–Apr 11.
When to plant clarkia (farewell-to-spring) in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Mar 28–Apr 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 18–Jun 25 (~75 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-3 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 6b
These go outside within two weeks of clarkia (farewell-to-spring) in zone 6b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Black-Eyed SusanApr 4–Apr 11
- Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Phacelia (Lacy Phacelia)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Purple ConeflowerApr 4–Apr 11
- Saponaria (Soapwort)Apr 4–Apr 11
- Shasta DaisyApr 4–Apr 11
Clarkia, also called mountain garland or farewell-to-spring, is a silky-petaled cut flower with a genuine cool-weather requirement: too much heat after germination produces weak, spindly stems instead of the sturdy ones a good cut flower needs.
How clarkia (farewell-to-spring) fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Clarkia (farewell-to-spring) needs about 75 days from sowing to first bloom.
Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring) planting windows in every zone
Zone 6b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 22–Apr 29 | Apr 29–May 6 | Jul 13–Jul 20 |
| 3a & 3b | May 2–May 9 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 12–Apr 19 | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 6a & 6b (your zone) | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 18–Jun 25 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Jun 3–Jun 10 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Mar 4–Mar 11 | May 18–May 25 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 10–Apr 17 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 2–Jan 9 | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| 11a & 11b | Dec 4–Dec 11 | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Feb 24–Mar 3 |
Bloom dates are about 75 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for clarkia (farewell-to-spring).
Where to buy clarkia seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries clarkia seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing clarkia (farewell-to-spring)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 6b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring) in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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