This annual plant is native to western North America, including: Baja California; California; Arizona; Oregon; Washington; and British Columbia, and is found in diverse habitats.

In the California Floristic Province it is found in all the zones, except the deserts, from the coasts to high interior mountains, including the Sierra Nevada.

[4][5] Clarkia purpurea has a thin reddish stem that may approach 1 meter (3 ft.) in height and has a few lance-shaped leaves.

[6] Subspecies include: The Indigenous peoples of California sowed the plant, to later harvest the seeds to grind for food.

[6] The conspicuous flowers support native bees, making it a "honey plant".