Evening Primrose

Oenothera biennis

Evening Primrose has bright yellow flowers that open in the evening! It's a special flower that attracts night-time pollinators.

Habitat: Open fields and roadsides

Appearance

The Evening Primrose has vibrant yellow, cup-shaped flowers, each with four petals, that unfurl dramatically at dusk. Its upright stems feature lance-shaped leaves, and the plant can grow quite tall, standing out in open fields.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMyrtalesFamilyOnagraceaeGenusOenothera

Evening Primrose

Interesting facts

Its bright yellow petals open so quickly at sunset, you can almost watch it happen!

Native Americans used its leaves and roots for food and medicine long ago.

The roots of the Evening Primrose can be boiled and eaten, tasting a bit like parsnips!

This plant gets its name because its lovely flowers bloom mainly in the evening.

Special abilities

Evening Primrose can rapidly unfurl its bright flowers at sunset, making it visible to nocturnal pollinators like moths.

Evening Primrose has a sweet, strong fragrance released at night that attracts specific night-flying insects from afar.

Evening Primrose can produce many tiny seeds that stay viable in soil for years, waiting for perfect conditions.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-150 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 2-5 cm
Bloom Season: Summer to early fall
Is Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Biennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

White-lined Sphinx Moth

Hyles lineata

visits flowers at night for nectar.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects pollen and nectar by day.

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on leaves and young shoots.

eats

American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

feeds on the oil-rich seeds.

Traits

Biennial

Explore plants that take two whole years to complete their life journey! In the first year, they grow leaves, and in the second, they bloom and make seeds.

Fragrant Flower

Discover flowers that release delightful scents into the air, enchanting our senses and attracting helpful insects. Take a moment to enjoy their sweet perfume!