Flower profile
Common evening-primrose
Oenothera biennis
Common evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a flowering plant in the Onagraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–October across the U.S.
Common evening-primrose is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Jersey it's most often seen in bloom in July–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: New Jersey
Quick look
Oenothera biennis, the common evening-primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae, native to eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland west to Alberta, southeast to Florida, and southwest to Texas, and widely naturalized elsewhere in temperate and subtropical regions. Evening primrose oil is produced from the plant.
- It belongs to the Onagraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 43 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to New Jersey. NatureServe
- In New Jersey, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 1,181 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #82 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In New Jersey, most flowering sightings come in July–October.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- New Jersey
- Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KS (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records common evening-primrose in 43 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Common evening-primrose a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -28 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- High
- Drought tolerance
- Medium
- Moisture use
- Medium
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 5.0 to 7.0
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -28 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 120
- Annual precipitation range
- 20 to 55 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 10 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- None
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Lifespan
- Short
- Active growth period
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Fruit or seed
- Brown · Summer to Fall
- Can be propagated by
- seed
- Commercial availability
- Contracting Only
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for OEBI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Oenothera muricata, Oenothera pycnocarpa.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1373 counties across 41 states; the most are in Illinois (102), Virginia (100), Ohio (78).
Other Oenothera on Bloomipedia (11): Pinkladies, Cutleaf evening primrose, Fragrant evening primrose, Scarlet beeblossom, Birdcage evening primrose, Bigfruit evening primrose, Pale evening primrose, False gaura, Yellow sundrops, Fourpoint evening primrose.
More from the Onagraceae family (19 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Fireweed, California fuchsia, Broadleaf enchanter's nightshade, Elegant clarkia, Sun cup, Dwarf fireweed, Peruvian primrose-willow, Golden suncup.
More New Jersey flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OEBI.
- iNaturalist, Oenothera biennis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Oenothera biennis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- New Jersey: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1).
- New Jersey: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Oenothera biennis (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.