General: Tufted Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) is a perennial forb that opens white flowers in the evening; by morning, the flowers are fading to red. The leaves are oblanceolate to several inches long with notched margins. The flowers are large, with petals spreading to 3-4 inches across.

In the southern Nevada area, this species is recognized by these characteristics (in this order): flowers white, developing buds erect. Other species of Evening Primrose with white flowers have nodding buds.

Tufted Evening Primrose is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on mountain hillsides in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub), (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland), Transition (Yellow Pine Forest) and Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Tufted Evening Primrose up on Mt. Charleston and in the Sheep Range.

Family: Evening Primrose (Onagraceae)