Flower profile

Pale evening primrose

Oenothera pallida

Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) is a flowering plant in the Onagraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.

Native to Utah

Pale evening primrose is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.

11states where USDA records it

1,722UT sightings*

2,997U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Utah

Quick look

Oenothera pallida, the pale evening-primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Onagraceae. It is native to British Columbia, the western United States, and northern Mexico. Flowers start out white and fade to pink.
From Wikipedia's article Oenothera pallida, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Onagraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Utah. ^NatureServe
In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–September. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,722 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #20 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Utah, most flowering sightings come in April–September.

Flowering records by month in Utah (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (345 records)

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
Utah: No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S1). (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?

For peopleNot well documented

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.

For petsNot well documented

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 pale evening primrose in 11 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Pale evening primrose a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 6.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 120
Annual precipitation range: 10 to 18 inches
Minimum root depth: 16 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for OEPA. 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.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 135 counties across 11 states; the most are in Utah (29), New Mexico (22), Idaho (20).

Other Oenothera on Bloomipedia (11): Pinkladies, Common evening-primrose, Cutleaf evening primrose, Fragrant evening primrose, Scarlet beeblossom, Birdcage evening primrose, Bigfruit 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 Utah flowers

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: July–August

Fragrant evening primrose

Oenothera cespitosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: April–June

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: April–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OEPA.
iNaturalist, Oenothera pallida: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Oenothera pallida (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Oenothera pallida (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: harrii via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.