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Oenothera speciosa Nuttall. Showy Evening-primrose, Pink-ladies. Phen: (Feb-) Apr-Jul (-Oct). Hab: Grasslands, prairies, glades, roadsides and fields, also cultivated as an ornamental. Dist: 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, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Munz (1965), Wagner, Hoch, & Raven (2007); = Hartmannia speciosa (Nutt.) Small – S, S13; > Oenothera delessertiana Steud.

Links to other floras: = Oenothera speciosa - FNA10

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Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Oenothera speciosa, Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area, Houston County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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: