When to plant Godetia in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow godetia direct from February to April or September to October, as this hardy annual flowers best when it grows through cool conditions. In cool gardens around Hobart, Orange and Ballarat, autumn sowings overwinter and flower early, while spring sowings give a later show. Cover the seed lightly at about 5 mm and keep it moist through a 14–28 day germination. Thin to 30 cm apart with rows 30 cm apart, giving the slender stems room to branch. Expect satiny, cup-shaped flowers in roughly 80–100 days, blooming most freely in the cool of late spring before summer heat shortens the display.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to April and September to October.

Growing notes

Godetia, or Clarkia, is a cool-season flower that resents heat and rich soil, which makes it a natural fit for cool zones. It flowers most generously when nights stay cool, so an autumn sowing that comes into bloom in spring usually outperforms a late spring sowing that runs into warm weather.

Sow direct where it is to grow, since godetia dislikes root disturbance and often sulks after transplanting. The seed is small at 5 mm, so firm the bed, sow thinly, and keep the surface just moist through the 14–28 day germination. The classic failure is overfeeding: too much nitrogen gives lush leaf and few flowers, so grow it hard in poor-to-average, free-draining soil and skip the fertiliser.

The second pitfall in cool gardens is waterlogging over winter. Autumn-sown seedlings sitting in cold, soggy ground rot at the base, so sow into a well-drained spot or raised bed and avoid heavy clay without improving it first. Full sun gives the strongest flowering; in too much shade plants stretch and flop. Deadhead regularly to stretch the display, and leave a few late flowers to set seed, as godetia self-sows lightly and often returns.

Godetia at a glance

Common questions

When should I sow godetia in a cool climate?

Sow direct from February to April or in September to October. Autumn sowings overwinter and flower early in spring, which suits cool zones best.

Why is my godetia all leaf and no flowers?

The soil is probably too rich in nitrogen. Grow godetia hard in poor-to-average, free-draining soil with no extra fertiliser, and give it full sun.

Can I transplant godetia seedlings?

It is best sown direct where it will grow, because it dislikes root disturbance and often sulks after transplanting. Firm the bed and sow the fine seed thinly.

Does godetia handle frost?

It is a hardy annual that copes with cool-zone frosts as a seedling, but it dislikes sitting in cold, waterlogged soil. Sow into well-drained ground or a raised bed.

Keep exploring