Showy evening primrose is a low-growing perennial, either trailing or upright. Flowers usually single, from upper leaf axils on a long peduncle, 4-petaled, large, pink or white, to 3 inches across, yellow at the center, with darker pink veins. Blooms May–July. Leaves linear to lance-shaped, tapering to a stemlike base, coarsely toothed.
Height: to 1½ feet.
Statewide. Most common in our southern and eastern counties, rare in northern sections. Cultivated and locally introduced statewide.
Habitat and Conservation
Occurs in fields, prairies, pastures, waste areas, rights-of-way, and other disturbed sites, often covering large areas. A favorite of native plant gardeners. Cultivated garden selections are being developed.
Human Connections
A showy, drought-tolerant native plant for wildflower gardening, it can spread (sometimes aggressively) by roots and seeds, forming dense colonies in sunny locations.
Ecosystem Connections
The flowers are visited by a variety of insects, and the foliage is eaten by several animals ranging from beetles and moth larvae to woodchucks, rabbits, and deer.
