Downingia ornatissima

About
Downingia ornatissima is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name folded calicoflower. This showy wildflower is endemic to California, where it is a resident of vernal pools and other wet places in the Central Valley. This annual grows an erect, branching stem with usually one tubular flower at the top of each branch. The flower has an upper lip made up of two narrow, pointed lobes in shades of light purple, and a lower lip made up of three lobes fused into one surface, which is the same color as the upper lip and has a central field of white with two prominent yellow projections. The flower is similar to those of other downingias, except it is lightly crinkled, with the upper lobes often curled back and the edges of the lower lobes uneven. The dark blue anther just emerges from where it is tucked between the upper lobes.
- Family
- Campanulaceae
How to use it
The folded calicoflower is primarily valued for its ornamental beauty in natural landscapes. It thrives in vernal pools, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to create a wetland habitat. This plant can attract pollinators, contributing to the ecological balance in its native environment.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Gardening tip
If you want to grow folded calicoflower, plant the seeds in a location that mimics its natural wet habitat, such as a vernal pool or a moist garden bed. Ensure that the area remains damp, especially during its growing season.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Ecology
How it lives
- Propagated by
- Seed
Full detailsevery field on the record, to copy
- Name
- Downingia ornatissima
- Slug
- downingia-ornatissima
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Downingia
- Species
- ornatissima
- Wikidata QID
- Q2501635
- Propagule type
- seed
- Container suitable
- No
- Indoor suitable
- No
- OSSI pledged
- No
- Hazard level
- 1
- Data completeness
- 43
Generated sections & citations
summarywikipedia
fun_facts_kidsllm_openai · confidence 0.90
- wikidata (common_name)
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downingia_ornatissima
fun_facts_adultllm_openai · confidence 0.90
- wikidata (common_name)
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downingia_ornatissima
how_to_usellm_openai · confidence 0.90
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downingia_ornatissima
gardening_tipllm_openai · confidence 0.90
- wikipedia (description.summary) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downingia_ornatissima