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Onagraceae
Oenothera

not marked as a favorite taxon 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.

Glossary (beta!)

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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image #1 of Oenothera biennis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Oenothera biennis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Oenothera biennis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Oenothera biennis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Oenothera biennis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Oenothera biennis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Oenothera biennis© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Oenothera biennis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Oenothera biennis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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