Plant Names
Oenothera biennis
Common Evening-primrose
Onagre bisannuelle
Synonyms
hoary evening-primrose
king's cureall
yellow evening-primrose
herbe aux ânes
onagre de Victorin
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Yellow
Bloom Period: Jun - Sep
Max Height: 6.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Biennial
plants that will take two years to bloom, and then will die
Gardener Experience:
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports birds
Butterfly host
Bee host
Keystone species
Supports birds
Butterfly host
Bee host
Keystone species
Tolerates:
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
The flowers open in the evening and close by noon. The plant takes 2 years to complete its life cycle, with leaves prominent the first year and yellow flowers appear during the second year. The roots are eaten by some wildlife and the seeds are a good source of food for birds. Deer will eat the older plants.
These plants do well in newly established landscapes, but do not last as they are a biennial plant. Any seeds remaining on the ground will self germinate if the ground is disturbed.
The flowers of this plant attract a variety of moths, birds and hummingbirds.
Special value to native bees.
These plants do well in newly established landscapes, but do not last as they are a biennial plant. Any seeds remaining on the ground will self germinate if the ground is disturbed.
The flowers of this plant attract a variety of moths, birds and hummingbirds.
Special value to native bees.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Taiga Plains
- Atlantic Maritime
- Taiga Shield
- Boreal Plains
- Montane Cordillera
- Prairies
- Hudson Plains
- Boreal Shield
- Boreal Cordillera
- Pacific Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Oenothera biennis
-
Eudryas unio
Pearly Wood Nymph - Agaristine à Bande Courbe -
Hyles lineata
White lined Sphinx - Sphinx à Lignes Blanches -
Mompha eloisella
Red streaked Mompha -
Schinia florida
Primrose
Specialized Bees Supported by Oenothera biennis
- Lasioglossum oenotherae
Complementary Plants
- No complementary plants found.
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Oenothera (Non-Native Primrose)
- Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose Cultivars)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
- Notes: Can be sown in early spring in cool soil.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Remove non-seed material
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.