Oenothera speciosa
Mexican evening primrose
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Oenothera speciosa (Mexican evening primrose) is a non-native California subshrub in the Onagraceae family, recognized by large white-to-pink flowers and nodding stem tips.
Mexican evening primrose is a naturalized perennial found in southern coastal California in disturbed places at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white flowers fading to pink or rose-purple, with petals 25 to 40 millimeters long. Growing with weakly ascending to erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms large patches from woody caudices and rhizomes. Its cauline leaves are 2.5 to 8 centimeters long, oblanceolate to nearly elliptic, with wavy or nearly entire margins. When young, the plant forms rosettes and spreads widely through its rhizomatous growth habit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are large white-to-pink flowers and nodding stem tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: generally < 500 m
Outside California: native New Mexico to central United States, central Mexico
Bloom period
Oenothera speciosa blooms May-Sep.
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 speciosa native to California?
No. Oenothera speciosa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Oenothera speciosa bloom?
Oenothera speciosa blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Oenothera speciosa belong to?
Oenothera speciosa is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera speciosa grow in?
Oenothera speciosa 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.