narrow-leaved sundrops

Oenothera fruticosa

Narrow-leaved sundrops are bright yellow flowers that bloom in the sunshine. They are cheerful and can be found in gardens and meadows, bringing joy to everyone who sees them.

Habitat: Meadows

Appearance

The narrow-leaved sundrops has upright stems with slender, dark green leaves. Its cheerful, cup-shaped flowers are bright yellow, usually featuring four delicate petals and prominent stamens. It forms clumps of vibrant color.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMyrtalesFamilyOnagraceaeGenusOenothera

Photo: Kurt Stüber [1]CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

narrow-leaved sundrops

Interesting facts

Even though it's called sundrops, it belongs to the evening primrose family.

Its name 'sundrops' refers to the bright, sunny yellow color of its flowers!

The plant's scientific name 'Oenothera' might come from words meaning 'wine-scented'.

These cheerful flowers attract many busy bees and butterflies all day long!

Special abilities

Narrow-leaved sundrops flowers unfurl each morning to greet the sun and pollinators, then close as evening approaches.

Narrow-leaved sundrops can thrive in poor, rocky, or dry soils, making it super tough where others struggle.

This plant produces many tiny seeds that are easily scattered by wind, helping it spread to new places.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-90 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 2.5-5 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

Pollinates

Painted Lady butterfly

Vanessa cardui

sips nectar from the bright blooms

Eats

American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

feasts on its mature seeds

Eaten by

Fall Armyworm

Spodoptera frugiperda

its caterpillars chew on leaves

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers unless an adult says it's okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify narrow-leaved sundrops?

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 narrow-leaved sundrops?

30-90 cm

How wide does narrow-leaved sundrops spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on narrow-leaved sundrops?

2.5-5 cm

When does narrow-leaved sundrops bloom?

Summer

Is narrow-leaved sundrops edible?

Is narrow-leaved sundrops toxic?

None

What is narrow-leaved sundrops's lifecycle?