General Plant Information (Edit)
| Plant Habit: |
Herb/Forb
|
| Life cycle: |
Biennial
|
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
|
| Water Preferences: |
Mesic
Dry Mesic
|
| Minimum cold hardiness: |
Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
|
| Maximum recommended zone: |
Zone 8b
|
| Plant Height: |
2 to 7 feet |
| Plant Spread: |
1 to 3 feet |
| Fruit: |
Showy
|
| Fruiting Time: |
Fall
|
| Flowers: |
Showy
Fragrant
Nocturnal
Other: open in the evening till mid-morning
|
| Flower Color: |
Yellow
|
| Bloom Size: |
Under 1"
1"-2"
|
| Flower Time: |
Summer
|
| Underground structures: |
Taproot
|
| Uses: |
Medicinal Herb
Vegetable
Salad greens
Will Naturalize
|
| Edible Parts: |
Stem
Leaves
Roots
Seeds or Nuts
|
| Eating Methods: |
Raw
Cooked
|
| Wildlife Attractant: |
Bees
Butterflies
Other Beneficial Insects: Sphinx moths
|
| Resistances: |
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
|
| Propagation: Seeds: |
Provide light
Self fertile
Stratify seeds: 30 days
Suitable for wintersowing
Sow in situ
Start indoors
Other info: can only handle transplanting when seedlings are small
|
| Pollinators: |
Moths and Butterflies
Bees
|
| Miscellaneous: |
Tolerates poor soil
|
Victory Seed Company sells seeds of Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis).
- Common Evening Primrose
- Evening Primrose
- Common evening-primrose
- Night Willow-herb
- Hoary Evening Primrose
Posted by
Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Nov 16, 2011 1:43 AM concerning plant:
This plant is a North American native. Its yellow blooms exude a perfume that attracts the nocturnal sphinx moth, which pollinates it. It has been used by Native Americans for various ailments for years, but more recently it has become the focus of medical research. The plant may have an anti-clotting factor that would make it useful in the prevention of heart attacks. It has also been found that the oil of the evening primrose might help those who suffer from atopic eczema, asthma and from migraine. None of these drugs has been approved in the US, however.
Posted by
sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on Jul 10, 2020 5:59 AM concerning plant:
This plant works as a "trap plant" for Popillia aka "Japanese" beetles. I let these grow in a few places. When the beetles appear, they can often be found on the tallest clusters of leaves, in the morning or evening especially. This year I've already picked many dozens of beetles. I knock the beetles into a bowl of water, then give them to my chickens. Chickens love to eat the beetles.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 24, 2018 8:26 PM concerning plant:
It is a very common forb in meadows and prairie and seashore from southeast Canada into Florida to Arizona up into southern British Columbia. I've only seen it as a wild plant.
Posted by
jmorth (central Illinois) on Oct 30, 2011 4:29 PM concerning plant:
Flowers open at night, emitting a creosote aroma that night flying sphinx moths find very attractive. Yellow bloom has 8 yellow stamens.
Indians ate the seeds and first year roots. Plant was introduced to Europe in early 1600's. Europeans ate the root and young shoots in salads.
Flowers emit a creosote smell that attracts night flying Sphinx moths.
Posted by
Mindy03 (Delta KY) on May 4, 2012 1:24 PM concerning plant:
Honey bees get pollen from this plant.
Plant Events from our members
| greene |
On November 19, 2014 |
Obtained plant
These are biennial but after the recent frigid weather a few of the first year rosettes have started to send up their 'second year' growth. |
| lizvero |
On June 12, 2019 |
Potted up
planted on the ground triangle 1, |
| antsinmypants |
On May 19, 2022 |
Transplanted
Into shade garden 3. |
| WebTucker |
On October 4, 2021 |
Bloomed |
» Post your own event for this plant
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