Common names:
Pinkladies, pink evening primrose
Family:
Scientific name:
Oenothera speciosa
Main flower color:
Range:
South Arizona, south New Mexico, Texas and states to the east. Adventive in some other areas
Height:
Up to 20 inches
Habitat:
Roadsides, woodland, prairie, disturbed ground, at generally low elevations
Leaves:
Alternate, elliptic to oblanceolate, up to 3 inches long
Season:
April to September
Oenothera speciosa is a medium-height species, producing many slender stems from a woody base, sometimes forming large clumps. Stems and leaves have a fine covering of very short but somewhat rough hairs. Leaves are light green, a few inches long, and usually have a few irregularly shaped, rounded lobes along the edges, most noticeably towards the base. Margins may also have a few tiny reddish teeth.
Flowers are produced at the top of the stem and from the upper leaf nodes; they are formed of four green sepals, about an inch in length, and four overlapping petals up to 1.5 inches long. Petals are pink towards the edge, white lower down and yellow right at the base, and are crossed by a neat pattern of darker pink veins; one of the more attractive species in this large genus. The color of the petals darkens as the flower matures. The center of the flower contains eight stamens and a white style, terminating in a four-pronged stigma.
Flowers are produced at the top of the stem and from the upper leaf nodes; they are formed of four green sepals, about an inch in length, and four overlapping petals up to 1.5 inches long. Petals are pink towards the edge, white lower down and yellow right at the base, and are crossed by a neat pattern of darker pink veins; one of the more attractive species in this large genus. The color of the petals darkens as the flower matures. The center of the flower contains eight stamens and a white style, terminating in a four-pronged stigma.
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