Oenothera primiveris
Yellow desert evening primrose
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oenothera primiveris (Yellow desert evening primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by stemless habit and distinctive large seeds key.
Yellow desert evening primrose is a California native annual found in the Mojave Desert bioregion in sandy flats, low hills, dune margins, and arroyos at elevations of 30 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces bright yellow flowers that fade to red-purple or orange, measuring 6 to 40 millimeters across. Growing with minimal stems or occasionally reaching up to 35 centimeters tall, this rosetted plant has a distinctive strigose and sometimes glandular appearance. Its leaves are 4 to 28 centimeters long, oblanceolate with wavy-dentate edges or occasionally 1 to 2-pinnately lobed, ranging from green to gray-green. The fruit is lanceolate to ovate, measuring 10 to 60 millimeters long and can be straight, curved, or S-shaped.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; stemless habit and distinctive large seeds key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy flats, low hills, dune margins, arroyos
Elevation: 30-1400 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Imperial, Mono
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Oenothera primiveris blooms Mar-May.
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 primiveris native to California?
Yes. Oenothera primiveris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oenothera primiveris bloom?
Oenothera primiveris blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Oenothera primiveris grow?
Oenothera primiveris occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Imperial, Mono, at elevations of 30-1400 m.
What plant family does Oenothera primiveris belong to?
Oenothera primiveris is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera primiveris grow in?
Oenothera primiveris grows in Sandy flats, low hills, dune margins, arroyos.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.