Oenothera xenogaura
Drummond's gaura
(c) Lauren McLaurin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lauren McLaurin · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Oenothera xenogaura (Drummond's gaura) is a non-native California perennial in the Onagraceae family, recognized by rhizomatous habit and distinctive bulged ovate fruits.
Drummond's gaura is a naturalized perennial herb found in coastal western and southwestern California in cultivated fields at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces delicate pale flowers in loose clusters with spreading growth habit. Growing in large mats with rhizomes, the stems reach 2 to 6 centimeters tall and are covered in fine spreading hairs. Its leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 5 to 95 millimeters long, with slightly wavy or toothed edges. The elongated fruit is erect, 7 to 13 millimeters long, with a distinctive bulge near its middle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are rhizomatous habit and distinctive bulged ovate fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cultivated fields
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native central Texas to central Mexico
Bloom period
Oenothera xenogaura 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 xenogaura native to California?
No. Oenothera xenogaura is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Oenothera xenogaura bloom?
Oenothera xenogaura blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Oenothera xenogaura belong to?
Oenothera xenogaura is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera xenogaura grow in?
Oenothera xenogaura grows in Cultivated fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Oenothera xylocarpa — Wood fruit evening primrose
- Oenothera avita — California evening primrose
- Oenothera avita subsp. avita
- Oenothera avita subsp. californica
- Oenothera avita subsp. eurekensis — Eureka dunes evening-primrose
- Oenothera biennis — Common evening-primrose
- Onagraceae sp. — Evening-primrose family
- Taraxia ovata — Goldeneggs
- Taraxia sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.