# Seabeach Evening-primrose (*Oenothera humifusa*)

The Seabeach Evening-primrose is a lovely flower that blooms in the evening. Its bright yellow petals open up to greet the night and attract nighttime pollinators like moths.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Seabeach Evening-primrose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Edwards's_botanical_register_%28Plate_1829%29_%288616886668%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Lindley, John; Ridgway, James, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edwards's_botanical_register_%28Plate_1829%29_%288616886668%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Seabeach Evening-primrose is a low-growing, sprawling plant with bright lemon-yellow flowers that open in the evening. Its delicate petals are often flushed with red at the base, and it forms dense mats on sandy ground, distinguishing it from taller primroses.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its delicate flowers change color, fading from bright yellow to warm orange-red!
- Its tough seeds can float on ocean currents to colonize new beaches!
- This hardy plant helps hold shifting sand dunes together, preventing erosion!
- Tiny hairs on its leaves help it capture precious moisture from humid sea air!

## Special abilities

- **Sand Anchor:** Seabeach Evening-primrose can spread its roots and stems widely, helping it anchor in loose beach sand and survive strong winds.
- **Night Bloom:** Seabeach Evening-primrose has flowers that open at dusk, specifically attracting nocturnal moths to pollinate them.
- **Salt Shield:** This plant can tolerate salty sea spray, having evolved ways to manage high salt content in its tissues.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in evening pollination.
- **Pollinates:** Carolina Sphinx Moth (*Manduca sexta*) — An important nocturnal visitor for pollination.
- **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — Forages for small seeds from dried flower heads.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Seabeach Evening-primrose?

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 Seabeach Evening-primrose?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Seabeach Evening-primrose spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Seabeach Evening-primrose?

2-4 cm

### When does Seabeach Evening-primrose bloom?

Summer

### Is Seabeach Evening-primrose edible?

Yes

### Is Seabeach Evening-primrose toxic?

None

### What is Seabeach Evening-primrose's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Jamestown Exposition](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jamestown-exposition) — Virginia, US · Historic District
- [Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-harbor-bird-sanctuary) — US · Nature Reserve
- [Assateague State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/assateague-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park

[View all places to see Seabeach Evening-primrose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/seabeach-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*)

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