The document summarizes information about the desert lantern plant (Oenothera deltoides), including that it is native to deserts in southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. It grows 1-3 feet tall and has white flowers with yellow centers that fade to pink and bloom in the spring. It is well suited for desert gardens due to its low water needs once established and ability to tolerate a variety of soil and sunlight conditions. It attracts pollinators like hawkmoths to its musky-scented flowers.

1. *Desert lantern – Oenothera deltoides (ee-no-THER-uh del-TOY-deez)
Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family)
Native to: Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin deserts of southern CA, NV, AZ and UT; sandy, open
desert areas, especially near dunes, below 3500 ft. in Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland,
Valley Grassland, Sagebrush Scrub plant communities.
Growth characteristics: annual/perennial wildflower mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Mounded herbaceous plant that looks like a bushy perennial. Leaves long, oval, gray-green and
mostly in a dense basal rosette. Leaves are hairy and often lobed or toothed. Stems dry to form an
unusual and decorative ‘birdcage’.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring (March to May), although it sometimes blooms in summer in the
Sonoran Desert. May bloom second year. Flowers open at sunset and die by mid-morning the
following day. Flowers relatively large (3 in. wide), white with yellow centers fading to pale pink,
with four petals. Musky-sweet scent attracts the Hawkmoths that are the plants pollinators.
Uses in the garden: Mostly used in Desert gardens but can be planted elsewhere. Lovely choice for
scent gardens, white/moon gardens. Does fine in containers, under trees.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Evening Primroses.
Attracts: Pollinator habitat: large Hawkmoths.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade best: dappled shade or afternoon shade.
Soil Most soils and local pH. Fine with potting soils.
Water Good moisture until flowers; then taper off to summer dry.
Fertilizer None
Other No mulch or light gravel mulch.
Management: Need at least two plants for good seedset. Let plants go to seed; will reseed on bare
ground. Cut off birdcage when you get tired of it. May live 2 or even 3-4 years. That’s it.
Propagation: from seed: fresh seed in fall; give cold treatment if planting in spring.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 10, 46, 61 3/26/18
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND