# Tall Evening Primrose (*oenothera elata*) The Tall Evening Primrose is a beautiful flower that opens its yellow petals in the evening. It's a favorite of many nighttime pollinators like moths! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Tall Evening Primrose typically grows in open fields, meadows, and along roadsides. ![Tall Evening Primrose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oenothera_elata_hookeri_3.jpg&width=800) Photo: by User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oenothera_elata_hookeri_3.jpg) ## Appearance The Tall Evening Primrose has slender, upright stems topped with bright lemon-yellow, cup-shaped flowers. Its petals are delicate and crinkled in the bud, dramatically unfurling at dusk to reveal a vibrant bloom. It stands out with its distinct height and nocturnal floral display. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Onagraceae - **Genus:** Oenothera ## Interesting facts - Its petals quickly unfurl, sometimes in minutes, right before your eyes at sunset! - Some parts of the plant taste peppery, like a spicy salad green. - The plant's seeds contain an oil rich in beneficial fatty acids. - The roots were once eaten like potatoes by Indigenous peoples. ## Special abilities - **Night Bloom:** Tall Evening Primrose can open its flowers rapidly at dusk to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths. - **Deep Root Anchor:** Tall Evening Primrose has a long taproot that helps it find water and nutrients in dry, poor soils. - **Seed Spreader:** Tall Evening Primrose produces many small seeds that allow it to spread and colonize new disturbed areas easily. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-180 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Carolina Sphinx Moth (*Manduca sexta*) — Drinks nectar from evening blooms. - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — A frequent nocturnal visitor for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Primrose Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/primrose-moth) (*Schinia florida*) — Larvae feed exclusively on evening primrose plants. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on the leaves and stems. ## Traits - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tall 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 Tall Evening Primrose? 90-180 cm ### How wide does Tall Evening Primrose spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Tall Evening Primrose? 3-5 cm ### When does Tall Evening Primrose bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is Tall Evening Primrose edible? Yes ### Is Tall Evening Primrose toxic? None ### What is Tall Evening Primrose's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Little Italy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-italy) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Sabino Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabino-canyon) — Arizona, US · Natural Landmark - [El Prado Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-prado-complex) — California, US · Historic Site - [Fort Funston](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-funston) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Tall Evening Primrose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tall-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: [Tall Evening Primrose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tall-evening-primrose)