# northern evening-primrose (*Oenothera parviflora*)

The northern evening-primrose is a beautiful flower that blooms in the evening. Its bright yellow petals open up to greet the night and attract lovely moths and other nighttime creatures.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![northern evening-primrose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oenothera_parviflora_close_up_flower.jpg&width=800)

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. TeunSpaans assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oenothera_parviflora_close_up_flower.jpg)

## Appearance

The northern evening-primrose has slender, often reddish stems with lance-shaped leaves. Its small, bright yellow flowers, typically 1-2.5 cm wide, open at dusk and are distinctly bowl-shaped. Unlike some larger evening-primroses, its petals are relatively uniform.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- If you watch closely at dusk, you can see the petals unfurl quickly!
- Its roots were once used by Native Americans as a nutritious vegetable!
- Some believe its oil helps skin feel soft and healthy.
- The flower petals have tiny "nectar guides" only insects can see!

## Special abilities

- **Twilight Bloomer:** northern evening-primrose can open its bright yellow flowers only at dusk, attracting nocturnal pollinators like moths under the moonlight.
- **Seed Powerhouse:** northern evening-primrose has small seeds that can remain viable in the soil for many years, waiting for the right conditions to sprout.
- **Survivor Soil:** northern evening-primrose can thrive in poor, sandy, or disturbed soils that other plants avoid, making it a resilient pioneer species.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 20-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to early fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Its long proboscis reaches deep for nectar.
- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and stems.
- **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Spinus tristis*) — Goldfinches feast on its small seeds.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify northern 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 northern evening-primrose?

30-100 cm

### How wide does northern evening-primrose spread?

20-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on northern evening-primrose?

1-2.5 cm

### When does northern evening-primrose bloom?

Late summer to early fall

### Is northern evening-primrose edible?

Yes

### Is northern evening-primrose toxic?

None

### What is northern evening-primrose's lifecycle?

Biennial

## 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: [Northern Evening-primrose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-evening-primrose)