Common Evening-primrose
Oenothera biennis
Also listed as Oenothera pycnocarpa, Oenothera muricata
Also known as Evening-primrose, Wild Evening-primrose, King's-cureall
Climate Match for your location
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A biennial or short-lived perennial with bright yellow four-petaled flowers that open in the evening. Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, it self-seeds readily and attracts pollinators.
Why grow it
Common evening-primrose offers reliable pollinator support and establishes quickly in poor soils where many ornamentals struggle. Unlike some evening-primrose species, O. biennis produces abundant seed for naturalizing without requiring deadheading, making it useful for filling gaps in early-stage permaculture plantings. Its evening-blooming habit and extended flowering period fill a niche distinct from day-blooming wildflowers in the same habitat range.
Watch out for
In favorable conditions, self-seeding can become prolific enough to require occasional thinning if containment matters in your garden plan. Seedlings germinate readily in fall and spring, so scouting for unwanted volunteers in adjacent beds during these seasons helps manage spread. Plants may exhaust themselves after flowering heavily, particularly in their second year, so succession planting ensures continuous cover if that's important to your design.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A biennial or short-lived perennial with bright yellow four-petaled flowers that open in the evening. Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, it self-seeds readily and attracts pollinators.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Evening-primrose grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common evening-primrose offers reliable pollinator support and establishes quickly in poor soils where many ornamentals struggle. Unlike some evening-primrose species, O. biennis produces abundant seed for naturalizing without requiring deadheading, making it useful for filling gaps in early-stage permaculture plantings. Its evening-blooming habit and extended flowering period fill a niche distinct from day-blooming wildflowers in the same habitat range.
Watch out for
In favorable conditions, self-seeding can become prolific enough to require occasional thinning if containment matters in your garden plan. Seedlings germinate readily in fall and spring, so scouting for unwanted volunteers in adjacent beds during these seasons helps manage spread. Plants may exhaust themselves after flowering heavily, particularly in their second year, so succession planting ensures continuous cover if that's important to your design.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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