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Native Plant Database

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Oenothera fruticosa (Narrowleaf evening-primrose)
Vick, Albert F. W.

Oenothera fruticosa L.

Narrowleaf evening-primrose, Narrow-leaf evening-primrose, Sundrops

Onagraceae (Evening-Primrose Family)

USDA Symbol: oefr

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Narrow-leaf evening-primrose or sundrops is an 18-24 in. perennial with a diffusely clustered system of unbranched stems. The lance-shaped leaves are 2-3 in. long, while the showy, golden-yellow, four-petaled flowers average 2 in. in diameter.

Narrowleaf Evening-primrose spreads rapidly under favorable conditions but does not usually become aggressive. In the South, the over-wintering basal rosette is evergreen and reddish-purple in appearance.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: S. New England to NY, TN & MO, s. to FL & OK
Native Habitat: Dry woods, roadsides & meadows
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Well-drained soils. Tolerant of brackish and lime soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Hummingbirds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed, stem cuttings taken after flowering or separation of outer rosettes in the fall. The easiest method of increase simply involved bending the flexible stems to the ground and covering the nodes with a bit of soil. Rooting will occur rap
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Seeds mature slowly. The capsule become hard as they develop and are best opened with pruning shears. When some seeds should fall from the end of the capsule it is time to collect. Store the dried seed in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Carolina Wild - Anderson, SC
Sunshine Farm & Gardens - Renick, WV
American Native Nursery - Quakertown, PA

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski
* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Oenothera fruticosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Oenothera fruticosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Oenothera fruticosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-12-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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