Oenothera biennis L.
Common Evening Primrose
Common evening primrose is a tall biennial originally from eastern and central North America that has become widely naturalised across Britain and other temperate regions. In its first year it forms a flat rosette of leaves; in the second it throws up a stout, leafy stem bearing a long spire of large, four-petalled, lemon-yellow flowers.
About
Common evening primrose is a tall biennial originally from eastern and central North America that has become widely naturalised across Britain and other temperate regions. In its first year it forms a flat rosette of leaves; in the second it throws up a stout, leafy stem bearing a long spire of large, four-petalled, lemon-yellow flowers. True to its name, the blooms typically open in the evening, releasing a light scent, and continue through summer into autumn.
It favours open, sunny ground on light, dry and often disturbed soils, and is frequently seen on sandy banks, waste ground, dunes and railway sides. The evening-opening flowers are particularly attractive to moths, while bees work them by day. Its seeds are the source of evening primrose oil. As a naturalised rather than native plant it is best used thoughtfully, but it can bring height and a long, glowing yellow display to wilder borders and dry, free-draining sites.
Also known as
Common Evening-primrose · Evening Primose · Evening-primrose · German Rampion · Hoary Evening-primrose · Hoary Eveningprimrose · King's-cureall · Lesser Evening Primrose · yellow evening-primrose
Synonyms
Brunerya biennis · Brunyera biennis · Oenothera beckeri · Oenothera biennis biennis · Oenothera biennis caeciarum · Oenothera biennis centralis · Oenothera biennis leptomeres · Oenothera biennis muricata · Oenothera biennis nanella
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.