It produces a rosette of lobed or toothed leaves each up to 36 centimetres (14 in) long around a woody caudex.

It has no stems, with flowers and leaves growing directly from the root crown.

[1] The four-petaled white flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning pink.

[1] The plant is a larval host to the white-lined sphinx moth.

[5] Oenothera deltoides is very similar, with short stems and slightly smaller flowers.