Oenothera biennis Linnaeus. Common name: Common Evening-primrose. Phenology: Jun-Sep (-Oct). Habitat: Fields, pastures, roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Ranging widely in e. North America and Europe, and scattered in w. North America.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Fl4, FNA10, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, W, WH3, Dietrich, Wagner, & Raven (1997), Wagner, Hoch, & Raven (2007); = Oenothera biennis L. var. biennis — C; < Oenothera biennis L. — G, RAB, S, Tat, Va, WV; > Oenothera biennis L. ssp. caeciarum Munz — Munz (1965); > Oenothera biennis L. ssp. centralis Munz — Tx, Munz (1965); > Oenothera biennis L. var. biennis — F; > Oenothera biennis L. var. pycnocarpa (Atk. & Bartlett) Wiegand — F; < Onagra biennis (L.) Scop. — S13; Oenothera biennis L. Basionym: Oenothera biennis L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Oenothera biennis - FNA10
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Biennial/short-lived perennial found in fields, pastures, roadsides and other disturbed areas.
Stems: Stems unbranched, green to reddish-green, very leafy and furry-hairy.
Leaves: Basal leaves form a rosette the first year; second-year leaves alternate and mostly ascending on the stem, sessile to subsessile, lance-shaped, to 6 in. long, entire or toothed.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers arising from upper leaf axils, bright yellow, 1-2½ in. wide, consisting of 4 heart-shaped petals, an elongated calyx tube of 4 strongly reflexed sepals, 8 stamens and a cross-shaped stigma.
Fruits: Fruit an ascending, lance-cylindric capsule.
Comments: Flowers open at dusk and are pollinated by sphinx moths.
Height: 2-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Biennial/short-lived perennial found in fields, pastures, roadsides and other disturbed areas.
stems: Stems unbranched, green to reddish-green, very leafy and furry-hairy.
leaves: Basal leaves form a rosette the first year; second-year leaves alternate and mostly ascending on the stem, sessile to subsessile, lance-shaped, to 6 in. long, entire or toothed.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers arising from upper leaf axils, bright yellow, 1-2½ in. wide, consisting of 4 heart-shaped petals, an elongated calyx tube of 4 strongly reflexed sepals, 8 stamens and a cross-shaped stigma.
fruits: Fruit an ascending, lance-cylindric capsule.
comments: Flowers open at dusk and are pollinated by sphinx moths.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: United States & southern Canada
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