BOTANICAL NAME:
Oenothera speciosa
(Oenothera berlandieri)
COMMON NAMES:
Pink Evening Primrose
Showy Evening Primrose
Mexican Evening Primrose
FAMILY: Onagraceae
ORIGIN: Mexico
C164-13
Reason for listing as potentially
invasive species:
This showy perennial thrives in full sun with little water. Its native
habitat is very similar to Southern California’s climate, so it should be
no surprise that it can escape cultivation. In gardens it is known to
take over and become a weed. This plant has escaped cultivation in
Southern California, but its spread has been limited. Plant with
caution.
Methods of invading natural
areas:
seed
Habitat types it invades:
coastal habitats, riparian, coastal sage
Where invasive in Southern
California:
Palos Verdes Peninsula, Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary1
Potentially invasive varieties
include:
all members of the species O. speciosa (O. berlandieri)
Varieties not known to be
invasive:
Alternative plants to consider:
1
California native species
and cultivars:
Erigeron glaucus
Monardella villosa
Monardella linoides
Penstemon spectabilis
Salvia ‘Dara’s Choice’
Verbena lilacina
Beach Aster
Coyote Mint
Willowy Mint
Showy Penstemon
Dara’s Choice Sage
Lilac Verbena
Non-native species:
Iris versicolor
Lavandula species
Salvia mexicana
Blue Flag Iris
Lavender species
Mexican Sage
Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria as accessed on the World Wide
Web April 25th, 2007. www.ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/