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Northern Evening Primrose

Oenothera parviflora

Last reviewed: September 2026

Northern Evening Primrose (Oenothera parviflora)
Photo: (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Northern Evening Primrose (Oenothera parviflora) 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

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CT, DE, IA, IN and 20 more states

Pollinators

bees, moths

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 area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Western Corn Belt PlainsGreat PlainsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Northern evening primrose is a compact native perennial that produces cheerful yellow flowers from June through August. This low-maintenance plant forms neat clumps and tolerates drought once established, making it a reliable choice for sunny garden areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Northern 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.

  • Can appear weedy or unstructured
  • Biennial growth pattern creates inconsistent appearance
  • May self-seed in unwanted areas

Wildlife value

The flowers attract native bees during the day and night-flying moths in the evening. This plant provides nectar for pollinators during the important summer blooming period.

Common questions

How much sun does Northern Evening Primrose need?
Northern Evening Primrose grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Northern Evening Primrose bloom?
Northern Evening Primrose blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Northern Evening Primrose native?
Northern Evening Primrose (Oenothera parviflora) is native to CT, DE, IA, IN and 20 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Northern Evening Primrose attract?
Northern Evening Primrose draws bees and moths.
Is Northern Evening Primrose HOA-friendly?
Northern 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 vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Northern Evening Primrose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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