# Evening Primrose Family (*onagraceae*)

Evening Primrose flowers bloom at night, filling the air with their sweet scent. Their bright yellow petals open in the evening, making them a delightful sight for night-loving creatures!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Evening Primrose grows in fields, gardens, and along roadsides in sunny areas.
- **Also known as:** Evening Star

![Evening Primrose Family](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chamerion.latifolium.web.jpg&width=800)

Photo: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamerion.latifolium.web.jpg)

## Appearance

The Evening Primrose Family is often characterized by its vibrant, usually yellow or pink, four-petaled flowers that unfurl dramatically. Many species display a distinctive evening opening, releasing a sweet fragrance, unlike many daytime bloomers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Myrtales
- **Family:** Onagraceae

## Interesting facts

- Many flowers unfurl their petals in mere minutes at dusk!
- Native Americans made ointments and food from their roots!
- Some species change their flower color as they get older!
- Their tiny seeds can lie hidden in soil for many years!

## Special abilities

- **Nocturnal Bloomers:** Evening Primrose Family can open flowers at dusk to attract nighttime moths for pollination.
- **Rapid Colonizers:** Evening Primrose Family can quickly grow in disturbed areas, becoming a pioneer species.
- **Hidden Seed Bank:** Evening Primrose Family has seeds that can stay dormant in soil for many years, waiting for ideal conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Tobacco Hornworm Moth (*Manduca sexta*) — Visits night-blooming flowers for nectar.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects pollen and nectar from daytime flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Red Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-deer) (*Cervus elaphus*) — Browses on leaves and stems in various habitats.
- **Depends on:** Gallium Sphinx Moth (*Hyles gallii*) — Larvae feed specifically on Fireweed (Epilobium) leaves.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Evening Primrose Family?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Evening Primrose Family?

30-180 cm

### How wide does Evening Primrose Family spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Evening Primrose Family?

2-10 cm

### When does Evening Primrose Family bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Evening Primrose Family edible?

Yes

### Is Evening Primrose Family toxic?

None

### What is Evening Primrose Family's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Palmer Playground](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palmer-playground) — Massachusetts, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Evening Primrose Family: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/evening-primrose-family)