Hairy Evening Primrose
Oenothera villosa
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Hairy Evening Primrose (Oenothera villosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CA and 39 more states
Pollinators
bees, moths, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Hairy evening primrose is a drought-tolerant perennial that produces bright yellow flowers from June through August. This wildflower grows in a compact clump and thrives in full sun with minimal water once established.
In an HOA neighborhood
Hairy Evening Primrose takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Appears weedy and informal to most HOAs
- Can spread aggressively
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and night-flying moths, making it valuable for pollinators. Evening primrose blooms open in the evening, providing nectar when many other flowers have closed for the day.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hairy Evening Primrose need?
- Hairy Evening Primrose grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Hairy Evening Primrose bloom?
- Hairy Evening Primrose blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Hairy Evening Primrose native?
- Hairy Evening Primrose (Oenothera villosa) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CA and 39 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Hairy Evening Primrose attract?
- Hairy Evening Primrose draws bees, moths, and butterflies.
- Is Hairy Evening Primrose HOA-friendly?
- Hairy Evening Primrose takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Hairy Evening Primrose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz