Oenothera elata

Primrose

Oenothera elata (Primrose) is a biennial wildflower. Both nectar feeding and seed feeding birds love it, as well as the Sphynx Moth, which feeds on the nectar. Large yellow flowers are arranged along a tall flower spike that emerges from the foilage. Leaves are large, long, and slightly fuzzy. The flowers open at dusk, and then stay open until mid-morning. Flower stalks can reach upwards of 6 feet in height. After the plant has died, the dry flower stalks remain, which can be cut away or left as part of a contrasting landscape choice or as bird food (finches feed on the seeds in the flower stalks in the fall). This plant reseeds itself very well, and spreads readily, so if you like your plants to stay in one spot this isn't the wildflower for you. Primose habitat is riparian edges and associated meadows.

This plant is available in seed; because of its two year life span we usually do not sell it as plugs. We have two ecotypes: the Sacramento Valley Watershed, and the Flynn Unit of the Sacramento River Wildlife Refuge in Butte County.