Oenothera rosea
Pink evening primrose
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Oenothera rosea (Pink evening primrose) is a non-native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by pink flowers and club-shaped fruits unique.
Pink evening primrose is a naturalized perennial herb found in southern California in disturbed places at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces rose to rose-purple flowers 5 to 10 millimeters long in axillary clusters. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms a rosette when young and is minutely strigose. Its cauline leaves are 1.5 to 4 centimeters long, oblanceolate to elliptic, and generally entire to wavy-dentate. The fruit is elongated, with a stalk-like base 5 to 20 millimeters long and a body 8 to 10 millimeters long that is wider toward the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; pink flowers and club-shaped fruits unique
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: generally < 500 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Alameda, San Francisco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Marin, Ventura
Outside California: native to Texas, Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Oenothera rosea 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 rosea native to California?
No. Oenothera rosea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Oenothera rosea bloom?
Oenothera rosea blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Oenothera rosea grow?
Oenothera rosea occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, Alameda, San Francisco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Marin and other counties, at elevations of generally < 500 m.
What plant family does Oenothera rosea belong to?
Oenothera rosea is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera rosea grow in?
Oenothera rosea grows in Disturbed places.
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.