Oenothera xylocarpa
Wood fruit evening primrose
(c) T. J. Samojedny, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by T. J. Samojedny · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oenothera xylocarpa (Wood fruit evening primrose) is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family.
Wood fruit evening primrose is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains in gravelly to pumice meadows and Jeffrey-pine or lodgepole-pine/fir forests at elevations of 2,200 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces yellow flowers that fade to deep salmon-red, approximately 25 to 38 millimeters long. Growing as a rosetted herb with no visible stem, it emerges with gray-green foliage and a fleshy taproot. Its leaves feature a main segment that is roughly round to oblanceolate, measuring 26 to 62 millimeters long with few small lobes. The distinctive fruit is narrowly lanceolate, curved and twisted, measuring 35 to 90 millimeters long with a wrinkled surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated in high Sierra Nevada
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly to pumice meadows, Jeffrey-pine or lodgepole-pine/fir forests
Elevation: 2200-3100 m
California counties: Tulare, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Oenothera xylocarpa blooms Jul-Aug.
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 xylocarpa native to California?
Yes. Oenothera xylocarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oenothera xylocarpa bloom?
Oenothera xylocarpa blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Oenothera xylocarpa grow?
Oenothera xylocarpa occurs in Tulare, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 2200-3100 m.
What plant family does Oenothera xylocarpa belong to?
Oenothera xylocarpa is in the Onagraceae family, genus Oenothera.
What habitat does Oenothera xylocarpa grow in?
Oenothera xylocarpa grows in Gravelly to pumice meadows, Jeffrey-pine or lodgepole-pine/fir forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Oenothera cavernae — Cave evening-primrose
- Onagraceae sp. — Evening-primrose family
- Taraxia ovata — Goldeneggs
- Taraxia sp.
- Taraxia subacaulis — Long leaved suncup
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.