Common Evening Primrose is a biennial wildflower that opens its bright yellow, four-petaled flowers at dusk and keeps them open through the night to attract moth pollinators. Native to eastern North America, it grows 2–6 feet tall in disturbed, open habitats. The flowers visibly unfurl in real time at sunset — a remarkable spectacle. Evening Primrose oil, extracted from the seeds, is widely sold as an herbal supplement. The roots and young leaves are edible.
Best time to see a Common Evening Primrose
The best time to see a Common Evening Primrose is June–September, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 14,103 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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