Common Evening Primrose

(Oenothera biennis)

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Oenothera biennis, commonly known as Common Evening Primrose, is a deciduous biennial herb native to open woodlands, grasslands, and prairies across North America, including the Eastern USA and Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in). The plant features a rosette of leaves in the first year and a tall spike with showy yellow flowers in the second year. The flowers, which are 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter with four bilobed petals, bloom from late spring to late summer. They open quickly in the evening, creating a spectacle that gives the plant its common name. The flowers are hermaphroditic and pollinated by nocturnal moths, including the primrose moth and the white-lined sphinx moth, which use the plant as a larval host.

Common Evening Primrose is valued for its medicinal properties, as the seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid. The plant is also appreciated for its ornamental qualities, particularly the evening blooming of its flowers. It is used in wildflower gardens, borders, and naturalized areas. Evening Primrose thrives in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to a range of soil types, from well-drained to clay soils. While it is drought-tolerant, it benefits from medium amounts of water. Gardeners should be aware that it can self-seed prolifically and may become invasive in some areas outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 3-5 feet
  • Width: 2-3 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands, grasslands, and prairies across North America

Other Names

Common Names: Common Evening-Primrose, Hoary Eveningprimrose, King’s-Cureall, German Rampion, Candlestick, Hoary Evening-Primrose, King’s Cureall, Wild Evening-Primrose, Evening Star, Sundrop

Scientific Names: , Oenothera biennis, Oenothera pratincola, Oenothera muricata, Onagra biennis, Oenothera chicaginensis, Oenothera suaveolens, Oenothera biennis var. leptomeres, Oenothera chicagoensis, Oenothera biennis subsp. caeciarum

GBIF Accepted Name: Oenothera biennis L.