Common Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata
Common Evening Primrose is a thick, stalky plant with beautiful, bright yellow flowers. The four large heart-shaped petals, which range from brilliant yellow to pale orange, surround similarly colored pollen sepals. The flowers crown the tall, fleshy stalks, opening from hairy red-green blooms. Further down the stalks grow long, slender leaves of bright green and seed pods. The cylindrical green capsules turn woody as the plant matures, splitting lengthwise when ripe to release tiny angled seeds. On the whole, this plant is quite tall, with the hookeri subspecies reaching about 1.8 meters (6 feet) in height. As the evening primrose develops, the plant grows a stout taproot and the woolly stems thicken and toughen.
Basic Information
Member of the Onagraceae family of evening primroses and willowherbs
Biennial or perennial herb
There are two recognized subspecies, ssp. Hookeri and hirsutissima
Ssp. hookeri was formerly considered a separate species, and some may still refer to it that way
Habitat
Native to much of western and central North America
The hookeri subspecies is native primarily to coastal California
Common in wetland ecosystems, moist forests, and seasonally wet habitats, as well as in open places, such as meadows, coastal sage scrub, coastal strands, and sagebrush scrub
Ecological Role
A number of insects use this plant, particularly the large Sphinx moths, which pollinates the flower at night
Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright yellow flowers
small birds, such as goldfinches, eat the seeds in the fall
Reproduction
Blooms from late June-September
Like other evening primrose species, the flowers bloom during the evening and close up by mid-day
This species is monoecious, with both male and female organs, and is self-fertile
Primarily pollinated by Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies) and bees
Alternative Names
Hooker's Evening-primrose, Tall Evening Primrose
Historical Uses
The Kayenta Navajo used the plant for various medicinal purposes including
Hot poulitce applied to mumps and sores
Emetic
Used for colds
The root was rubbed on hunter’s moccasins and body by the Paiute to attract deer and repel snakes
The root was carried by deer hunters in tribes such as the Jemez as a charm
