Cutleaf Evening Primrose
Oenothera laciniata
Also listed as Raimannia laciniata, Oenothera minima
Also known as Hairy Cutleaf Evening-primrose, Ragged Evening Primrose, Evening Primrose
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing wildflower with deeply lobed leaves and small yellow flowers that open in the evening. It is drought-tolerant and spreads readily, making it useful as a groundcover in hot, dry sites.
Why grow it
Cutleaf evening primrose offers a low-maintenance alternative to turfgrass in arid and semi-arid regions, with minimal water and fertilizer requirements once established. Its open-at-dusk flowering pattern distinguishes it from day-blooming groundcovers, providing evening garden interest. Where native or naturalized, it functions as a pioneer species that stabilizes disturbed soils while requiring no deadheading or pruning.
Watch out for
This species self-seeds prolifically and may establish beyond its intended area in suitable climates, so site it where volunteer seedlings won't compete with slower-growing neighbors. It performs best in well-draining soil and tends to decline in consistently moist or heavy clay conditions. In cooler regions, treat as a cool-season annual or short-lived perennial rather than a permanent groundcover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
South-central United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing wildflower with deeply lobed leaves and small yellow flowers that open in the evening. It is drought-tolerant and spreads readily, making it useful as a groundcover in hot, dry sites.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cutleaf 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
Cutleaf evening primrose offers a low-maintenance alternative to turfgrass in arid and semi-arid regions, with minimal water and fertilizer requirements once established. Its open-at-dusk flowering pattern distinguishes it from day-blooming groundcovers, providing evening garden interest. Where native or naturalized, it functions as a pioneer species that stabilizes disturbed soils while requiring no deadheading or pruning.
Watch out for
This species self-seeds prolifically and may establish beyond its intended area in suitable climates, so site it where volunteer seedlings won't compete with slower-growing neighbors. It performs best in well-draining soil and tends to decline in consistently moist or heavy clay conditions. In cooler regions, treat as a cool-season annual or short-lived perennial rather than a permanent groundcover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onagraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
South-central United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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