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Common Evening Primrose, Evening Star, Sun Drop - Oenothera biennis


Family: Onagraceae - Evening Primrose family Genus Common Name: Evening Primrose Native Status: NativeDicot Biennial Herb
Oenothera biennis - Common Evening Primrose, Evening Star, Sun Drop. Common Evening Primrose is found in all but 7 states. From Carol in Virginia: "It booms just at dusk and you can actually see the petals move as it opens... All the grandchildren love to gather around a plant and guess which one will open next."

Found in:
AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV

Journal Articles Referencing Evening Primrose

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Oenothera biennis

Distribution of Oenothera biennis in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2009-August-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The stigma has not opened in the blossom on the left, but the blossom on the right has the crossed stigma typical of many evening primroses.
Oenothera biennis
Site: Polk County, TN Date: 2004-August-24Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Blossoms arise from leaf axils near the end of the stem.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Oenothera biennis
Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2009-August-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
O. Biennis - Common Evening Primrose - may have a single stem, or, as in this photo, multiple stems arising about halfway or more up the plant. Leaves are alternating.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Oenothera biennis
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Oenothera biennis initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-03-31; Updated 2015-06-25

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