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Western Primrose

Oenothera hartwegii

Other common name(s):

Hartweg's Sundrops

Family:

Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Limestone Cut Plain
Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

.25
to
.5
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Caliche, Dry

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Bees

Maintenance

Prefers fast draining soil and loves reflected heat making it an excellent choice for a rock garden or rocky slope. Deadheading and giving it some summer water will prolong the flowers or let it go to seed for wildlife. Cut back to 6-8″ in the autumn to reshape. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Blooms March-November. Grows 12 – 18 in. high and 24 in. wide. Can form colonies up to several feet wide. Bushy plant with narrow lanceolate to oblong leaves held at 90 deg. to the slightly hairy stems. The bright yellow flowers consist of 4 wavy petals forming a tube at the base. Flowers open in the evening and close the next afternoon. Pollinated by sphinx moths; also attracts bees and butterflies. The seeds attract birds.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s. Calylophus hartwegii

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=28435&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAHA14. 4) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=836093#null., 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Oenothera+hartwegii+var.+hartwegii&formsubmit=Search+Terms., 6) https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/oenothera-hartwegii.html., 7) https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=1133

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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