Oenothera elata subsp. hookeri

Family: Onagraceae · Type: biennial · Native

Evening primrose is a California native biennial found in central and southern coastal regions in moist, sandy coastal and slightly inland bluffs at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive red-flushed sepals and glandular hairs with conspicuous red, blister-like bases. Growing 4 to 8 decimeters tall with erect stems that are characterized by spreading, glandular hairs. Its leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, with a soft, somewhat irregular shape adapting to its coastal habitat. The flower's anthers extend 12 to 23 millimeters, creating a striking display against the plant's yellow petals.

Habitat: Moist, coastal, slightly inland, sandy bluffs

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: CW, SW.

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Sutter, San Mateo, Marin, San Francisco, Napa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Diego, Orange, Lassen, Santa Barbara, Inyo, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Madera, Humboldt, Siskiyou, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Yolo, San Joaquin, Mono, Placer

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