Lavender leaf primrose

Also known as: Lavenderleaf evening-primrose

Oenothera lavandulifolia T. & G.

[=Calylophus lavandulifolius (T. & G.) Raven ]

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Lavender leaf primrose leaves

Lavender leaf primrose

Stem: Decumbent to ascending, few to many, usually branched, densely appressed gray-hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, sessile, numerous, crowded, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1/4 to 2 inches long, less than 1/4 inch wide, somewhat ascending, appressed gray-hairy; margins entire; tips pointed to rounded.
Inflorescence: Solitary flowers, in upper leaf axils.
Flower: 1 to 2 inches wide; floral tubes 1 to 2.5 inches long; sepals 4, often with purple marginal stripes; petals 4, 1/2 to 1 inch long, about as wide, yellow, fading pink or purplish, crinkled; stamens 8; stigma disc-shaped, 4-lobed.
Fruit: Capsules, narrow, cylindric, 1/2 to 1 inch long, 4-angled, gray-hairy; seeds many, small.

Habitat: Dry, rocky prairie hillsides and ledges, stream valleys, roadsides, and open wooded hillsides.
Distribution: West 1/2 of Kansas.

Lavender leaf primrose is slightly woody and frequently grows in tufts. It thrives in hard-crusted, fine-grained soils.

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.

Scientific Name: Calylophus lavandulifolius

Full Citation: Calylophus lavandulifolius Raven

Yellow Wildflowers

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June, July, August