California Evening Primrose
Oenothera californica
Overview
The California Primrose (Oenothera californica) is a drought-tolerant perennial, flourishing with fragrant white to pink blooms that open in the evening. It reaches 6-12 inches in height and spreads 12-18 inches, forming a low-growing rosette. Prefers full sun and well-drained soils, making it ideal for rock gardens and xeriscaping. Flowers from late spring to summer, attracting pollinators such as bees and moths. Zones 8-10.
Sun Full, HalfWater Extra in Summer, LowZones 9–10Type Ground cover, PerennialClimate Temperate
Culture
- Sun
- Full, Half
- Water
- Extra in Summer, Low
- USDA zones
- 9–10
Shape & size
Classification
- Type
- Ground cover, Perennial
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Climate
- Temperate
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Photographs by 11 contributors
- Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- cultivar413 from Fallbrook, California, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- John Rusk from Berkeley, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Burkhard Mücke, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0 · source
- Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- A7x, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Swallowtail Garden Seeds from Santa Rosa, CC BY 2.0 · source
- iNaturalist user: icosahedron, CC BY 4.0 · source
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