# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Meadows ![narrow-leaved sundrops](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oenothera_fruticosa0.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oenothera_fruticosa0.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Oenothera ## 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 - **Flower Power-Up:** Narrow-leaved sundrops flowers unfurl each morning to greet the sun and pollinators, then close as evening approaches. - **Soil Survivor:** Narrow-leaved sundrops can thrive in poor, rocky, or dry soils, making it super tough where others struggle. - **Seed Sprinter:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — feasts on its mature seeds - **Eaten by:** Fall Armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — its caterpillars chew on leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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? No ### Is narrow-leaved sundrops toxic? None ### What is narrow-leaved sundrops's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [The State Botanical Garden of Georgia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-state-botanical-garden-of-georgia) — Georgia, US · Botanical Garden - [Berry College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-college) — Georgia, US · Campus - [Green Springs National Historic Landmark District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-springs-national-historic-landmark-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Manassas National Battlefield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manassas-national-battlefield-park) — Virginia, US · National Park [View all places to see narrow-leaved sundrops](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/narrow-leaved-sundrops) ## 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: [Narrow-leaved Sundrops: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/narrow-leaved-sundrops)