Oenothera biennis Play pronunciation

Evening Primrose is an upright, herbaceous biennial in the primrose family common to eastern North America.  It can often be found growing wild in fields, prairies, glades, thickets, waste ground, disturbed sites, and along roadsides and railroad right-of-ways. The plant forms a stubby rosette in its first year. Beginning in the plant's second year, yellow flowers appear through summer into fall. Individual flowers open at dusk and close later the next day, hence the common name of evening primrose.  The genus name may come from the Greek words oinos and theras meaning wine-seeker referring to an ancient use of the plants roots to add scent to wine. The species name is in reference to the biennial growing cycle of this plant.

Evening Primrose does best in medium moisture, well drained, sandy soil sited in full sun. It is highly drought tolerant and does well in afternoon shade. It also tolerates gravelly soils. It can spread in the landscape by self-seeding and can be somewhat weedy.

This plant is relatively tall, maturing at 5 to 7 feet high and 3 feet wide and works well planted along boarders or makes an excellent addition to a wildflower, cottage, or herb garden. It is considered biennial because plants die after setting seed, but perennial because it will naturalize easily in the landscape. The seeds can stay viable in the soil for up to 70 years.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf spot and powdery mildew may occur.