Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Soil Type: Loam, Sand, Clay
Height: 3 - 5 feet
Spread: 2 feet
Blooms: June, July, August, September, October, November
Root: Taproot
Habitat: Prairies, Thickets, Lakeshore Dunes, Roadsides,
Landscape uses: Moon gardens, Pollinator garden, Naturalized areas, Meadow plantings
Wildlife Value: Flowers open at night and are primarily pollinated by moths. Host Plant: Primrose Moth, Pearly Wood Nymph, Grape Leaffolder Moth, White-Lined Sphinx
Seed Origin: Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Germination Code: A, D, F
Photo credits: #1 by Christian Ferrer, #2 by Gilles Ayotte
Oenothera biennis - Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose is a showy biannual, sometimes flowering in the first year, but may use energy developing its rosette the first year and send up flowers the next. The flowers bloom throughout the growing season, and usually only open in the evening or on cloudy days. This plant readily self seeds and germinates on bare soil, moving around the garden to surprise you every year.
The stunning pink Primrose Moth can complete its life cycle on the Evening Primrose plant. The small green larvea of the Primrose Moth will feed on the flowers and seed of the plant and the adult moth can often be found resting on the yellow flowers, pollinating them in the process.