Oenothera pubescens
Pubescent evening primrose
(c) Oscar C. González Martínez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oenothera pubescens (Pubescent evening primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by straight cylindrical fruits vs curved in similar species.
Pubescent evening primrose is a California native annual found in the central Mojave Desert near Newberry Springs in San Bernardino County at approximately 600 meters elevation. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers that fade to orange, with petals 5 to 35 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 0.5 to 8 decimeters tall, it has a strigose appearance with both minute and long spreading hairs. Its cauline leaves are narrow-oblanceolate to lanceolate, 2 to 8 centimeters long, often pinnately lobed or nearly entire. The fruit is a cylindric capsule 20 to 45 millimeters long, containing small spheric seeds with a pitted surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species; straight cylindrical fruits vs curved in similar species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open places
Elevation: +- 600 m.
Outside California: to New Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Oenothera pubescens blooms May-Jul.
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 pubescens native to California?
Yes. Oenothera pubescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oenothera pubescens bloom?
Oenothera pubescens blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Oenothera pubescens belong to?
Oenothera pubescens is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera pubescens grow in?
Oenothera pubescens grows in Open places.
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.