Image of Oenothera parviflora
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Plant Names

image of Flowering plant
Oenothera parviflora
Small-flowered Evening-primrose
Onagre parviflore

Synonyms

least evening-primrose
northern evening-primrose
onagre à petites fleurs
onagre muriquée

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: Yellow Bloom Period: Jul - Oct
Max Height: 4.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Lifespan: Biennial plants that will take two years to bloom, and then will die
Gardener Experience:
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Juglone Tolerant 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

Small-flowered Evening-primrose produces a tall flowering stalk with yellow, four-petaled flowers that open around sunset, making it an especially interesting plant for gardens that are enjoyed in the evening.

The plant can produce large numbers of seeds, allowing it to appear quickly in suitable open ground.
Small-flowered Evening-primrose is self-compatible, meaning an individual plant can produce seed without requiring pollen from another plant.

The plant's tall flower spike can continue producing flowers over an extended period, with individual flowers opening progressively rather than all at once.

Treat it as a naturalizing plant rather than a formal border perennial. Its biennial habit means individual plants don't necessarily return as the same plant every year, but new seedlings can replace them

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Oenothera parviflora
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Oenothera parviflora

Specialized Bees Supported by Oenothera parviflora

  • Lasioglossum oenotherae

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

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: 45 days
  • Self-seeding

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
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.