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Chylismia spp.

suncup

Onagraceae Deserts of western North America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

Overview

Chylismia spp. is a genus of annual and short-lived perennial herbs in the evening-primrose family, Onagraceae, native to the deserts and dry interior of western North America. The roughly 16 species range from a few inches to about 3 feet (8-90 cm) tall, with basal rosettes of pinnately lobed or toothed leaves and slender, often reddish flowering stems. The four-petaled flowers are yellow, sometimes aging to orange or red, and measure 0.2-1 inch (5-25 mm) across; many open in late afternoon or at night and are pollinated by bees and hawkmoths. Some species, including the browneyed suncup (C. claviformis), carry a dark reddish blotch at the petal bases. Flowering follows winter and spring rains, after which the desert annual species complete their life cycle and die back as the soil dries. Plants grow on sandy washes, gravelly flats, and rocky desert slopes, appearing in number only in years of adequate rainfall and remaining scarce in drought. The genus was separated from Camissonia spp. on differences in flower structure and seed form, which limits the older names found on many herbarium records.

Native Range

Chylismia spp. is native to western North America, concentrated in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Species reach across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, mostly on open desert flats, washes, and rocky slopes.

Suggested Uses

Chylismia spp. is grown in desert, rock, and native plant gardens of the arid Southwest, and adds to wildflower displays after wet winters. The evening-opening flowers draw native bees and hawkmoths. Because the desert annuals are short-lived and weather-dependent, they suit naturalistic dryland plantings rather than steady bedding.

How to Identify

Look for low rosettes of pinnately lobed leaves giving rise to wiry stems tipped with small four-petaled yellow flowers, each with four stigma lobes above a slender floral tube. Petals often show a red or brown spot near the base and may fade to orange with age. The combination of yellow flowers, desert habitat, and small capsules that split to release many seeds sets the genus apart from larger-flowered evening primroses.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3" - 3'

Width/Spread3" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Spring

Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from February to May, triggered by winter and early-spring rainfall. In years of sparse rain, plants may flower briefly or fail to appear at all. Many species open their flowers in late afternoon or evening and close them by the following midday.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Chylismia spp. species grow in full sun on sharply drained sandy or gravelly soil and need very little water once seedlings establish. They tolerate heat, intense light, and alkaline desert soils, but rot quickly in moist, rich, or poorly drained ground. Annual species are grown from seed sown in autumn for spring bloom, germinating after cool-season rain. Most need a dry summer dormancy and do not persist in irrigated gardens. Plants set abundant seed and can reseed where conditions suit them. Cold tolerance varies, with desert species hardy only to about USDA zone 8.