Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia, native California perennial

iNaturalist user: icosahedron (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY

Family: Onagraceae · Type: Perennial · Native

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia is a native California perennial in the Onagraceae family, recognized by subsp. suffruticosa by herbaceous habit and smaller flowers.

beach evening primrose is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, central coastal, and Channel Islands bioregions on sandy slopes, flats, and coastal dunes at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers with petals 6 to 11 millimeters long. Growing with sparse to rarely dense silvery hairs, the plant forms low-spreading stems with a delicate structure. Its leaves are somewhat narrow and lance-shaped, arranged alternately along the stems. The flower's hypanthium measures 2.1 to 4.2 millimeters long, with small anthers approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters in length.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished from subsp. suffruticosa by herbaceous habit and smaller flowers

Habitat and range

Habitat: Sandy slopes, flats, coastal dunes

Elevation: < 100 m

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Del Norte, Sacramento, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Mendocino, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Ventura, San Francisco, Orange, San Diego, Solano

Outside California: southwestern Oregon

Bloom period

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia blooms Apr-Aug.

How to tell it apart

vs Camissonia: Camissoniopsis flowers from base with four-angled fruits; Camissonia flowers from top with round fruits.; vs Oenothera: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Oenothera has round fruits and a distinctive 4-lobed cross-shaped stigma.; vs Taraxia: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits and flowers from base; Taraxia has round fruits.; vs Tetrapteron: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Tetrapteron has four-winged fruits.; vs Eulobus: Camissoniopsis has four-angled fruits; Eulobus has wand-like stems with red-flecked petals.

Frequently asked questions

Is Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia native to California?

Yes. Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia bloom?

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia blooms Apr-Aug.

Where in California does Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia grow?

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia occurs in San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Del Norte, Sacramento, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 100 m.

What plant family does Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia belong to?

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia is in the Onagraceae family, genus Camissoniopsis.

What habitat does Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia grow in?

Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia subsp. cheiranthifolia grows in Sandy slopes, flats, coastal dunes.

Related species

Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.

All Camissoniopsis species · All Onagraceae

Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos

Last updated 2026-10-07

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.