Plant Names
Oenothera fruticosa
Narrow-leaved Evening-primrose
Onagre frutescente
Synonyms
narrow-leaved sundrops
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Yellow
Bloom Period: Jul - Sep
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 1.5 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More 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
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Tolerates drought conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates drought conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is endangered
This plant is endangered
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Oenothera fruticosa
- Eudryas unio (Pearly Wood Nymph)
- Hyles lineata (White lined Sphinx)
- Mompha eloisella (Red streaked Mompha)
- Schinia florida (Primrose)
Specialized Bees Supported by Oenothera fruticosa
- Lasioglossum oenotherae
Complementary Plants
- Anemone virginiana
Tall Anemone
Anémone de Virginie - Blephilia ciliata
Downy Wood Mint
Bléphilie ciliée - Polanisia dodecandra
Red-whiskered Clammyweed
Polanisie à douze - Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobole à glumes inégales - Tradescantia ohiensis
Ohio Spiderwort
Tradescantie d'Ohio
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Oenothera (Non-Native Primrose)
- Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose Cultivars)
- Oenothera fructicosa (Sundrops 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: August
- 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.