Scientific Family
Onagraceae
Other common names
white evening primrose
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or perennial
Height
To 1-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Low and spreading plant. It has creeping rhizomes which are the origin of clustered plants.
Plants usually without hairs; capsules spreading, deflexed or coiled; seeds in 1 row in each cell, not pitted.
Habitat
Prefers an open, hot, dry site in gravely or sandy soils.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Disturbed Areas
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Montane Conifer Forest
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
7200
Flower Characteristics
Large white blooms which can be up to 3 inches across are tissue-like and fragrant. Pink buds open in the evening and the flowers fade to pinkish after they are pollinated.
Flower color
White to pinkish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Margins of the leaves are wavy and toothed. Red, arching stems can be fleshy or woody.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Each 4-chambered capsule contains 2 rows of seeds.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Brown with greenish stripes
Seeds are tiny.