Plant Details

Oenothera biennis

Evening Primrose

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Common names

45 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • common evening primrose[1]
  • common evening-primrose[1]
  • Evening Primrose
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • evening star[1]
  • evening-primrose[1]
  • German Rampion[1]
  • Noćurak[1]
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Middelste teunisbloem[1]
  • Teunisbloed
  • teunisbloem[1]
French
  • Onagre bisannuelle[1]
Afrikaans
  • gewone nagblom[1]
Belarusian
  • Асліннік двухгадовы[1]
Catalan
  • bella de nit[1]
Cherokee
  • ᎠᎾᏓᏥ[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pupalka dvouletá[1]
Danish
  • Toårig natlys[1]
Estonian
  • kaheaastane kuningakepp[1]
Finnish
  • iltahelokki[1]
German
  • Gemeine Nachtkerze[1]
  • Gewöhnliche Nachtkerze[1]
  • Gewöhnliche Zweijährige Nachtkerze[1]
Hebrew
  • נר-לילה דו-שנתי[1]
Hungarian
  • parlagi ligetszépe[1]
Italian
  • Enagra comune[1]
Japanese
  • メマツヨイグサ[1]
  • 雌待宵草[1]
Korean
  • 달맞이꽃[1]
Latvian
  • Divgadīgā naktssvece[1]
Lithuanian
  • Dvimetė nakviša[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Wezaawaanagak+wag[1]
Polish
  • Wiesiołek dwuletni[1]
Russian
  • Ослинник двулетний[1]
  • Энотера двулетняя[1]
Slovak
  • pupalka dvojročná[1]
Slovenian
  • dvoletni svetlin[1]
Spanish
  • onagra común[1]
Swedish
  • nattljus[1]
  • äkta nattljus[1]
Turkish
  • Ezançiçeği[1]
Ukrainian
  • Енотера дворічна[1]
Welsh
  • Melyn yr hwyr[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Oenothera biennis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common evening-primrose — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • common evening primrose — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Gemeine Nachtkerze — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Gewöhnliche Nachtkerze — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • evening star — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • onagre bisannuelle — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • iltahelokki — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • 달맞이꽃 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • bella de nit — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Wiesiołek dwuletni — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • pupalka dvouletá — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • teunisbloem — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • メマツヨイグサ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Dvimetė nakviša — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • onagra común — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • 月見草 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Toårig natlys — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Ослинник двулетний — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Энотера двулетняя — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • nattlys — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Wezaawaanagak+wag — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • kaheaastane kuningakepp — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • 月见草 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • nattljus — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Middelste teunisbloem — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • äkta nattljus — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • dvoletni svetlin — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • נר-לילה דו-שנתי — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Енотера дворічна — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Асліннік двухгадовы — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Gewöhnliche Zweijährige Nachtkerze — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • gewone nagblom — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • evening-primrose — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • German Rampion — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Divgadīgā naktssvece — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • parlagi ligetszépe — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • ᎠᎾᏓᏥ — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Enagra comune — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Ezançiçeği — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • 雌待宵草 — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Noćurak — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • pupalka dvojročná — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.
  • Melyn yr hwyr — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 62207; Oenothera biennis.

General information

Scientific name: Oenothera biennis
Accepted name (Kew): Oenothera biennis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Onagraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Oenothera (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Evening Primrose
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.91–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Biennial, Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Leaves, Oil, Root, Seed capsule
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Dye, Oil, Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Cooked carrots are often eaten as salsify or parsnips due to their fleshy, sweet, peppery, and juicy flavor, and because they are healthy and nutritious. Young shoots, both raw and cooked, also have a peppery taste, but due to their sliminess, it is recommended to consume them in moderation or even avoid them altogether. The sweet flowers of the plant can be used in salads or as a garnish. The young seed pods can be boiled or steamed, and the seeds are a good source of gamma-linolenic acid. However, harvesting the small seeds is difficult and labor-intensive, resulting in generally low yields, and therefore the product is considered expensive.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 119960; name ID 2398316; Oenothera L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 125117; name ID 2399189; Oenothera biennis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Oenothera biennis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .