Castilleja exserta, Purple Owl's Clover

Carpets of pink and purple in serpentine and other areas are created by the free-flowering habits of this low-growing, sun-loving annual with showy markings. It grows in early and mid-spring, often found in pools within masses of tidy tips and goldfields. It is a larval food plant for Bay Checkerspot butterfly.

It has very fine seed, so a little goes a long way. One packet will cover an area 2'x2', or 4 sq. ft.  It tends to get swamped out when included in a wildflower mix with much taller species, so we suggest sowing it separately in pools within the planting.

*Please also note, cited from Calscape.org:

"... Like other related plants in the family, purple owl's clover derives some of its nutrients directly from the roots of other plants. Therefore, it is almost always planted, or grown from seed, with a perennial species from its natural plant community to serve as the host plant, such as a native grass. It takes full sun, prefers fast-draining soil but is tolerant of sand and clay. It does not need summer water."