Common Evening Primrose

Photo of common evening primrose, closeup of flowers.
Edible
Scientific Name
Oenothera biennis
Family
Onagraceae (evening primroses)
Description

Common evening primrose is a robust, much-branched, leafy biennial, growing as a rosette of leaves the first year, and sending up a flowering stalk, then dying, the next. Flowers several to many in terminal racemes, light yellow, 4-petaled, subtended by narrow, recurved bracts. The petals are rounded. Blooms June–October. Leaves alternate, sessile or with very short petioles, lanceolate, light green, with insignificant teeth or without, to 6 inches long.

Similar species: Missouri has about 22 species of Oenothera. This is the most common and widespread of them, and it is very variable in form.

Size

Height: to 6 feet (including the flowering stalk).

Where To Find
image of Common Evening Primrose distribution map

Common statewide.

Openings and edges of upland forests, edges of bottomland forests, glades, bluffs, prairies, marshes, sand prairies, banks of streams and rivers, ditches, pastures, fields, mine spoils, gardens, railroads, roadsides, and other open, disturbed areas. It is most noticeable late in the season, when it reaches its greatest height and the flowers at the top are most visible. Like other evening primroses, this species usually opens its flowers in the evening and subtly perfumes the night air.

Many people cultivate this plant in their gardens, and horticultural selections with much larger flowers are being developed. Oils from this species have been, and still are used for a variety of medicinal applications. Young leaves and first-year roots can be cooked and eaten.

Like most other night-blooming plants, night-flying animals are the chief pollinators. In this case, it is moths, especially sphinx moths. On cloudy mornings, when the flowers stay open, hummingbirds and bees and other insects visit, too. Several moth caterpillars and other insects eat the leaves.

Media Gallery
Photo of common evening primrose, closeup of flowers.
The flowers of common evening primrose are light yellow, with 4 rounded petals, and subtended by narrow, recurved bracts.
Jim Rathert
1/4
Photo of common evening primrose plants blooming in a field.
Common evening primrose is the most common and widespread evening primrose in Missouri.
Jim Rathert
2/4
Photo of common evening primrose, basal rosette of first-year leaves.
Common evening primrose is a biennial plant, growing as a rosette of basal leaves the first year, and flowering, then dying, the next.
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
3/4
Yellow flowers on green stalks with unopened flower buds. The plants are covered in dew.
Submitted by Brandon K Carter
4/4
Photo of common evening primrose, closeup of flowers.
Photo of common evening primrose plants blooming in a field.
Photo of common evening primrose, basal rosette of first-year leaves.
Yellow flowers on green stalks with unopened flower buds. The plants are covered in dew.
Similar Species
About Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants in Missouri
A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!