Oenothera avita subsp. californica
Photo: parent species Oenothera avita · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oenothera avita subsp. californica is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family.
California evening primrose is a California native perennial found in central and western California, southern California, and the southern desert mountains including the Little San Bernardino Mountains in sandy or gravelly areas, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland at elevations below 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive oblong to lanceolate leaves that range from nearly entire to deeply wavy-dentate. Growing with green to slightly gray stems that do not form new rosettes at their tips, it displays a variable appearance with either minimal or dense short appressed hairs. Its leaves are cauline, oblong to lanceolate in shape, presenting a subtle variation in texture and edge characteristics. The fruit develops 30 to 55 millimeters long, adding to the plant's distinctive structural profile.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly areas, open, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland
Elevation: < 1900 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Mono, Santa Barbara
Outside California: northwestern Baja California
Bloom period
Oenothera avita subsp. californica blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camissoniopsis: Oenothera has a 4-lobed cross-shaped stigma; Camissoniopsis has a round stigma and four-angled fruits.; vs Clarkia: Oenothera has 4-lobed stigma and yellow flowers; Clarkia has round stigma and pink/purple flowers.; vs Rosa: Oenothera has 4 petals and capsule fruits; Rosa has 5+ petals and rose hips.; vs Convolvulus: Oenothera has separate petals; Convolvulus has fused trumpet-shaped flowers (morning glory family).; vs Taraxia: Oenothera has robust stems with 4-lobed stigma; Taraxia is stemless with flowers at ground level.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oenothera avita subsp. californica native to California?
Yes. Oenothera avita subsp. californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oenothera avita subsp. californica bloom?
Oenothera avita subsp. californica blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Oenothera avita subsp. californica grow?
Oenothera avita subsp. californica occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1900 m.
What plant family does Oenothera avita subsp. californica belong to?
Oenothera avita subsp. californica is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera avita subsp. californica grow in?
Oenothera avita subsp. californica grows in Sandy or gravelly areas, open, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.