Flower profile
Fragrant evening-primrose
Oenothera stricta
Fragrant evening-primrose (Oenothera stricta) is a flowering plant in the Onagraceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states.
Fragrant evening-primrose is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Hawaii
Quick look
Oenothera stricta, the fragrant evening primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae. It is native to the Desventuradas Islands, Chile, and southern Argentina, and it has been introduced to many locations around the world. The unimproved species is available from commercial suppliers, as is a cultivar, 'Sulphurea'.
- It belongs to the Onagraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 728 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #65 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Hawaii
- Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 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 fragrant evening-primrose in 2 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Hawaii.
Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Maui.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 3 counties across 2 states; the most are in Hawaii (2), California (1).
Other Oenothera on Bloomipedia (11): Pinkladies, Common evening-primrose, Cutleaf evening primrose, Fragrant evening primrose, Scarlet beeblossom, Birdcage evening primrose, Bigfruit evening primrose, Pale evening primrose, False gaura, Yellow sundrops.
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 Hawaii flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OEST.
- iNaturalist, Oenothera stricta: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Oenothera stricta (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
- Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Oenothera stricta (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Nick Doty via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.