Oenothera cavernae
Cave evening-primrose, Cave Evening-Primrose
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Oenothera cavernae (Cave evening-primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by distinctive spotted leaves and beaked fruits.
Cave evening-primrose is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native annual found in the eastern Clark Mountain Range and Ivanpah Valley in desert scrub and Joshua-tree woodland at elevations of 760 to 1,280 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers that fade to pale pink, with blossoms up to 20 millimeters long. Growing with stems rarely exceeding 4 centimeters tall, emerging from a fleshy tapering taproot and often producing several lateral stems. Its oblanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate leaves are 2.5 to 13 centimeters long, distinctively green to red-green with numerous scattered red-purple splotches and minutely glandular-hairy edges. The plant produces ellipsoid-ovoid fruits 12 to 38 millimeters long with distinctive tubercles or wavy ridges along the valve surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; distinctive spotted leaves and beaked fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Joshua-tree woodland, desert scrub in dry, gravelly (often calcareous) soils on slopes, cliffs, and ridges
Elevation: 760-1280 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Outside California: southern Nevada, southern Utah, northern Arizona
Bloom period
Oenothera cavernae blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
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 cavernae native to California?
Yes. Oenothera cavernae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oenothera cavernae bloom?
Oenothera cavernae blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Oenothera cavernae grow?
Oenothera cavernae occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of 760-1280 m.
What plant family does Oenothera cavernae belong to?
Oenothera cavernae is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
Is Oenothera cavernae rare or endangered?
Oenothera cavernae carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
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.