SafePlants

Camissonia campestris: The Mojave Suncup

Camissonia campestris, commonly known as the Mojave suncup, field primrose, yellow cups, or golden suncup, is a captivating flowering plant that graces the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has slender stems.
• It is often found in home gardens and natural desert areas.

Considerations for Children

• This plant has slender stems.
• It is often found in home gardens and natural desert areas.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Camissonia campestris (Greene) P.H. Raven
• Family: Onagraceae (Evening-Primrose Family)
• Synonyms: Oenothera campestris Greene, O. dentata
• Subspecies: Camissonia campestris ssp. campestris

Distribution and Habitat

• Camissonia campestris is native to the Mojave Desert region of the southwestern United States.
• It is specifically found in areas such as Joshua Tree National Park, Red Rock Canyon State Park (California), Death Valley National Park, and the Antelope Valley.
• It thrives in the eastern Mojave Desert and Kern County.

Morphological Characteristics

• This plant is an annual herb.
• It has slender, somewhat curving, and usually hairless stems that can be either decumbent (trailing along the ground) or erect.
• Stems often reach over half a meter in height.
• The plant is typically well-branched.
• It is considered an ephemeral plant with stems usually less than 10 inches long.
• It has narrow leaves.
• The inflorescence is nodding (drooping).

Quirky Facts

• While commonly found in the Mojave Desert, Camissonia campestris is not confined to this region alone.

Further Information

• More information can be found on Discover Life's website.
• Photos are available at CalPhotos and Getty Images.