# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Open fields and roadsides - **Also known as:** Common Evening Primrose, Oenothera, Sundrops ![Evening Primrose](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426143/objects/4970.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Oenothera ## 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 - **Night Bloom Power:** Evening Primrose can rapidly unfurl its bright flowers at sunset, making it visible to nocturnal pollinators like moths. - **Scent Beacon:** Evening Primrose has a sweet, strong fragrance released at night that attracts specific night-flying insects from afar. - **Survival Seeds:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on leaves and young shoots. - **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — feeds on the oil-rich seeds. ## Traits - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Evening Primrose? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Evening Primrose? 30-150 cm ### How wide does Evening Primrose spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Evening Primrose? 2-5 cm ### When does Evening Primrose bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is Evening Primrose edible? Yes ### Is Evening Primrose toxic? None ### What is Evening Primrose's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Chadwick Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chadwick-arboretum) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [Chandon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chandon-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Inman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inman-park) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Techwood Homes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/techwood-homes) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo [View all places to see Evening Primrose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/evening-primrose) ## 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*) --- Source: [Evening Primrose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/evening-primrose)