Oenothera suffrutescens (syn. Gaura coccinea) is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known as scarlet beeblossom and scarlet gaura.
Description Scarlet beeblossom is a perennial herb growing from a woody base and heavy roots. The stems may reach anywhere from 10 centimeters in height to over a meter and sprawling, and they are often covered in small, stiff hairs. The thin to thick clumps of stems are covered in linear to somewhat oval-shaped leaves one to seven centimeters long. Atop the stems are spike inflorescences of several flowers each. The flower has four long, stiff sepals which open and fall away from the flower to lie reflexed toward the stem. There are four spoon-shaped petals which are white to yellowish and may turn pink with age. Each flower has eight long stamens with large red, pink, or yellowish anthers arranged around a long stigma. The flowers are strongly scented. The fruit is a woody capsule under a centimeter long.
Taxonomy The name Oenothera suffrutescens was created in 2007 when Gaura suffrutescens was moved to the genus Oenothera by Warren Lambert Wagner and Peter Coonan Hoch. It is classified in the family Onagraceae. It has no accepted subspecies, but it has synonyms according to Plants of the World Online.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Gaura bracteata 1828 species = het. Gaura coccinea 1813 species = het. Gaura coccinea var. arizonica 1938 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. epilobioides 1938 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. glabra 1938 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. integerrima 1827 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. parvifolia 1934 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. parvifolia 1939 variety = het. Gaura coccinea var. typica 1939 variety = het., not validly publ. Gaura epilobioides 1823 species = het. Gaura glabra 1830 species = het. Gaura induta 1913 species = het. Gaura linearis 1913 species = het. Gaura marginata 1832 species = het. Gaura multicaulis 1832 species = het. Gaura odorata 1816 species = het. Gaura parvifolia 1827 species = het. Gaura spicata 1888 species = het. Gaura suffrutescens 1828 species ≡ hom. Schizocarya kunthii 1835 species = het., nom. superfl. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Distribution The plant is native to much of North America, especially the western and central sections. It can be found in many habitats and is occasionally seen in urban areas. In 2016 NatureServe assessed Oenothera suffrutescens under the name Gaura coccinea as globally secure (G5).
Cultivation Scarlet beeblossom is occasionally grown in wildflower gardens for the resemblance of its flowers to butterflies and the pleaseant scent they produce when blooming. However, some like the author Claude A. Barr dislike that it spreads by deep rhizomes making it difficult to control in a garden setting.
References
External links Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN profile of Gaura coccinea (Scarlet beeblossom) UC CalPhotos gallery