Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Oenothera deltoides
Oenothera deltoides Torr. & Frém.
Birdcage Evening-primrose, Fragrant Primrose, Desert Evening-primrose, Birdcage Primrose, Dune Evening Primrose, Devil's-lantern
Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: OEDE2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Opening around sunset and wilting by mid-morning, the large flowers of Devil’s-lantern or Fragrant Primrose make a showy nighttime display. This is a mounded annual with a central, erect stem, 2-12+ in. high, and several leafy, decumbent to ascending branches 4 in. to 3 ft. long. The 3 in. wide, night-blooming flowers occur singly in the upper leaf axils. These flowers are white, fading pink, and are followed by a woody capsule.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NV , OR , UTNative Distribution: Mohave & Colorado Deserts of s. CA to AZ
Native Habitat: Dry, open, sandy areas
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Description: Sandy soils.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Sow unstratified seed in fall; stratified in spring. Plants can be divided at most any season.Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1994 VOL. 11, NO.5 - Sowing Seeds in Fall for a Spectacular Spring Season, Education Director's Repor...Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.5 - Bats as Cacti Pollinators, Fall Foliage Hotlines, Creating Fall Foliage Leafprin...
Additional resources
USDA: Find Oenothera deltoides in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Oenothera deltoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Oenothera deltoides
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-02-13Research By: TWC Staff