Oenothera speciosa (Showy Evening-primrose)

https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon:{5632DF46-69AB-46F8-A119-6665B63563CB}

Copy permalink to share

ONAGRACEAE

Oenothera speciosa Nuttall. Common name: Showy Evening-primrose, Pink-ladies. Phenology: (Feb-) Apr-Jul (-Oct). Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, glades, roadsides and fields, also cultivated as an ornamental. Distribution: The original distribution obscured by subsequent cultivation and spread, but apparently something like IA and NE south to LA, TX, NM, and Mexico (BCS, CHH, COA, DGO, MOR, NLE, SLP, SON, TAM, ZAC).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Substantial variation in ploidy (n= 7, 14, 21), color (white, pink), and flower-opening time (morning, evening) is here included uncomfortably in one taxon. Great Plains Flora Association (1986) discussed "Most of our plants are diploid, with white flowers that open in the evening. In se. KS rare roadside colonies are tetraploid, with rose-purple flowers that open in the morning".

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl4, FNA10, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Munz (1965), Wagner, Hoch, & Raven (2007); = Hartmannia speciosa (Nutt.) Small — S, S13; > Oenothera delessertiana Steud. Basionym: Oenothera speciosa Nutt. 1821

Links to other floras: = Oenothera speciosa - FNA10

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

Feedback

See something wrong or missing on about Oenothera speciosa? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.

Horticultural Information

Intro: Erect to sprawling, colonial perennial of roadsides and fields; introduced from farther west in the U.S.

Stems: Stems slender, often slightly woody, smooth or hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile, linear to lance-shaped, to 3 in. long, irregularly toothed or lobed (basal leaves more so), hairy or smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers born singly on slender, downy stalks (or sessile) from upper leaf axils; pink to white with darker pink-red veins and yellow throat; 2-3 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 4 round petals, 8 prominent stamens and a style with cross-shaped stigma; buds are spindle-shaped and nodding.

Fruits:

Comments: Flowers open in evening; often cultivated as a drought-hardy ornamental.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to sprawling, colonial perennial of roadsides and fields; introduced from farther west in the U.S.

stems: Stems slender, often slightly woody, smooth or hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile, linear to lance-shaped, to 3 in. long, irregularly toothed or lobed (basal leaves more so), hairy or smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers born singly on slender, downy stalks (or sessile) from upper leaf axils; pink to white with darker pink-red veins and yellow throat; 2-3 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 4 round petals, 8 prominent stamens and a style with cross-shaped stigma; buds are spindle-shaped and nodding.

fruits:

comments: Flowers open in evening; often cultivated as a drought-hardy ornamental.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:

0 unsaved edits on this page. Show all rows.

Colors

Data mode

Account

Feedback

Horticultural Information