Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis
Family: Onagraceae · Also called Sundrop, King's Cure-All, Night Willow-Herb, Oenothera brevicapsula, Oenothera compacta, Oenothera novae-scotiae var. serratifolia
Citrus & Bright · Summer bloomer
Evening primrose performs a nightly magic show, tight, pointed buds split open visibly at dusk, unfurling bright yellow, four-petaled flowers in real time over just a few minutes. By morning they've faded to orange-pink, but fresh buds open each evening all summer long. Watching them open is one of gardening's most enchanting experiences.
patience, fickleness, silent love
In the Victorian language of flowers, evening primrose means “Silent love and patience”. Native Americans used every part of the plant: roots as food, leaves as poultice, seeds as grain. Evening primrose oil (from the seeds) became one of the most popular herbal supplements of the 20th century, used for skin conditions and hormonal balance. The plant was taken to Europe in the 1600s as an ornamental and food plant, where it quickly naturalized.
Did You Know?
You can actually watch evening primrose flowers open, the process takes about 30 seconds and is one of the fastest visible movements in the plant kingdom. The flowers are open for just one night, pollinated by hawk moths drawn to the lemony scent and pale color visible in moonlight. A single plant can produce 100,000 tiny seeds.
Roadsides, waste ground, prairies, and disturbed soil across North America
Evening Primrose is native to Eastern North America. It naturally grows in roadsides, waste ground, prairies, and disturbed soil across north america.
Scent Profile
“A sweet, lemony fragrance released at dusk, designed to attract hawk moths, the primary pollinators. The scent intensifies as evening falls and fades by morning when the flowers close.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameOenothera biennis
- FamilyOnagraceae
- Native ToEastern North America
- Bloom SeasonSummer
- LifespanBiennial
Cultural Significance
Native Americans used every part of the plant: roots as food, leaves as poultice, seeds as grain. Evening primrose oil (from the seeds) became one of the most popular herbal supplements of the 20th century, used for skin conditions and hormonal balance. The plant was taken to Europe in the 1600s as an ornamental and food plant, where it quickly naturalized.