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Oenothera laciniata

cutleaf evening primrose

Onagraceae Central and eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Oenothera laciniata is a low, sprawling annual or biennial with decumbent stems 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) long radiating from a basal rosette. The leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long and pinnately lobed or deeply toothed, giving the plant its cutleaf name, and are covered in short hairs. Pale to bright yellow four-petaled flowers 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) wide open in late afternoon and evening and fade to orange-red by the next day. Blooming continues over a long season from spring into autumn, and the flowers are often self-pollinated. Narrow seed capsules follow, splitting to release many small seeds. It grows on sandy and disturbed ground, fields, roadsides, and dunes across central and eastern North America, and has naturalized in Europe and Asia. The sprawling habit and heavy self-seeding let it spread quickly and behave as a weed in cultivated ground. It is short-lived, completing its cycle in one or two seasons.

Native Range

Oenothera laciniata is native to central and eastern North America, from the Great Plains and Texas east to the Atlantic coast. It grows on sandy soils, dunes, fields, and roadsides, and has naturalized in Europe and East Asia.

Suggested Uses

Used in sandy wildflower plantings, dune stabilization, and naturalized dry banks, spaced about 12 inches (30 cm) apart. The evening flowers draw night-flying moths in informal settings. Its sprawling growth suits ground-level gaps rather than formal beds.

How to Identify

Identify it by sprawling stems radiating from a rosette and pinnately lobed, deeply cut leaves. Small four-petaled yellow flowers open in the evening and turn orange-red as they fade. The lobed leaves and low decumbent habit separate it from upright yellow evening primroses such as Oenothera biennis.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

orange

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering extends over a long season from spring through autumn, with individual flowers opening in late afternoon and lasting until the following morning. The blooms shift from yellow to orange-red as they age. Many flowers self-pollinate, so seed set is reliable even without visiting insects.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow, fading orange-red

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun in light, sandy, free-draining soil; poor and dry sites suit it well. Established plants tolerate drought and need little water once rooted. It is grown from seed sown in spring or autumn and often self-sows where the soil is bare. Rich or wet soils produce soft growth and shorten its life. Removing seed capsules before they split limits unwanted spread. No feeding is required on lean soils.