Oenothera primiveris A.Gray

Scientific Name and Growth Habit

Oenothera primiveris A.Gray is a hairy annual herb. It grows a dense rosette of leaves, and its inflorescence develops within this rosette; there is generally no true stem.

Leaf Appearance and Size

The leaves are green or grayish, and can reach up to 28 centimeters long. They have wavy or crinkled edges, or are cut into deep lobes or teeth.

Flower Position

Flowers grow from the axils of the leaves.

Flower Characteristics

Each flower has yellow petals up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long, which fade to orange or red as they age. This species blooms from February through May.

Fruit Description

Its fruit is a straight or curved capsule that grows up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long.

Native Range

Oenothera primiveris is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Habitat and Elevation

It grows at elevations below 4,500 feet (1,400 meters) in many types of flat desert habitats, including Creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodland, and Pinyon-juniper woodland, and it occurs in the Mojave Desert.