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Common Evening Primrose
Common Evening Primrose
12 in stock
$12.95
Common Evening Primrose is a tough, fragrant native with bright yellow blooms that open in the late afternoon, just in time to welcome evening. Incredibly drought-tolerant and built for hot Ohio clay, it self-seeds freely to keep your garden naturally supplied for years to come.
All perennials are sold in 1-quart pots with established root systems. Learn more about our growing standards here.
12 in stock
Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a magical addition to your garden. Unlike most perennials that bloom during the heat of the day, this native stunner puts on its show in the late afternoon and early evening. The silky yellow flowers unfurl quickly right before dusk, releasing a soft, sweet fragrance that lingers in the evening air.
Because it blooms when other plants are turning in for the night, it serves a critical ecological role. It provides a reliable nectar source for night-flying pollinators, particularly the impressive Hummingbird Sphinx Moth. It thrives in tough, sun-baked spots and heavy Ohio clay where non-native garden plants might struggle.
Understanding Its Lifecycle: Common Evening Primrose is a biennial. During its first year, it stays low to the ground while growing a sturdy taproot. In its second year, it shoots up a tall, sturdy flowering stalk packed with blooms. Once it finishes blooming in late summer, it produces abundant seed heads that local finches love, naturally dropping seeds so a steady, self-sustaining population continues in your garden without any extra effort on your part.
Life Cycle: Short-lived perennial, often behaves as a self‑seeding biennial
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun
Soil: Medium to Dry
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mid Summer to Early Fall
Height: 3’ to 5'
Spread: 1’ to 2’
Advantages: Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Birds and Months; fragrant flowers
Native Range: Upper Midwest and Northern Plains (commonly found from the Dakotas into the Great Lakes region)
USDA Zones: 4 – 8
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