Eremothera minor
Nelson's evening-primrose
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Eremothera minor (Nelson's evening-primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by . Key features: very small flowers, flowers from base.
Nelson's evening-primrose is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual found in the Modoc Plateau's Wendel and Surprise Valley regions in sandy slopes and sagebrush scrub at elevations around 1,200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers that fade to reddish, emerging delicately from the plant's base. Growing with slender erect stems 3 to 30 centimeters tall that have a distinctive peeling characteristic, the plant appears generally reddish with a dense, minute grayish strigose covering. Its leaves range from 5 to 45 millimeters long, primarily oblanceolate with uppermost leaves becoming linear and nearly entire. The plant produces elongated fruits 15 to 25 millimeters long, which are slightly cylindrical, twisted, and wavy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Key features: very small flowers, flowers from base
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy slopes, flats, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: +- 1200 m.
Outside California: to Washington, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Eremothera minor blooms Apr-Jul.
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 minor native to California?
Yes. Eremothera minor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremothera minor bloom?
Eremothera minor blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eremothera minor belong to?
Eremothera minor is in the Onagraceae family, genus Eremothera.
Is Eremothera minor rare or endangered?
Eremothera minor carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1S2.
What habitat does Eremothera minor grow in?
Eremothera minor grows in Sandy slopes, flats, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.