Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia
Booth's hairy evening-primrose, Booth's Hairy Evening-Primrose
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia (Booth's hairy evening-primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key features: dense spreading hairs, small leaves, leaf-like bracts.
Booth's hairy evening-primrose is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and desert mountains in sandy sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,500 to 2,150 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive dense, spreading hairs that are especially prominent in the flowering area. Growing with slender stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms delicate, compact plants with narrow leaves. Its leaves are generally less than 25 millimeters long, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate on the lower part of the plant, with edges that are nearly entire or minutely serrated. The fruit is small, typically 1 to 1.4 millimeters wide, and tends to curve outward or appear slightly wavy and twisted.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species. Key features: dense spreading hairs, small leaves, leaf-like bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1500-2150 m
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia blooms May-Jul(Oct).
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Chylismia: Eremothera has white/pink flowers opening at night; Chylismia has yellow day flowers.; vs Chorizanthe: Eremothera has regular 4-petaled flowers; Chorizanthe has tiny flowers in papery involucres (buckwheat family).; vs Oenothera: Eremothera has white/pink flowers; Oenothera typically has yellow flowers with 4-lobed stigma.; vs Camissonia: Eremothera has white/pink night flowers; Camissonia has yellow day flowers.; vs Gayophytum: Eremothera has larger white/pink flowers; Gayophytum has tiny thread-like stems and minute flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia native to California?
Yes. Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia bloom?
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia blooms May-Jul(Oct).
What plant family does Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia belong to?
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia is in the Onagraceae family, genus Eremothera.
Is Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia rare or endangered?
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia grow in?
Eremothera boothii subsp. intermedia grows in Sandy soils, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.