Oenothera biennis
(Evening Primrose)
Family - Onagraceae
Category - Biennial
Origin - Eastern North America
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H7
Height - up to 1.5m
Width - 60cm
Location - The Hot Garden
Description: A Biennial plant with tall, upright stems. Though usually used as a Biennial this plant may flower in its first year from seed. Mid-green leaves are lanceolate to oblong in shape and initially held in basal rosettes. Afterwards, the leaves are held in abundance up the vertical flowering stems. Long, pointed green buds open to large, bowl-shaped flowers that are lemon yellow at first and deepen to golden yellow with age. Each Bloom has four pointed sepals and a pale yellow-green stigma that is four-parted to form a cross. The flowers tend to open in the evening and are scented. The Blooms are held in Racemes atop upright stems and are produced from midsummer into early autumn. The seeds of this plant are used to produce evening primrose oil.
Synonym - Onagra biennis
Flower:
Long, pointed green buds open to large lemon yellow, bowl-shaped flowers that deepen to golden yellow with age. Each bloom has four long, pointed sepals and a central stigma that is four-parted to form a cross. The flowers are held in racemes on upright stems and are produced from July into September. The flowers tend to open in the evening and are fragrant. The blooms are followed by green oblong seed pods.
Flower colour: Yellow
Flower shape: Bowl-shaped flowers in racemes
Flowering time: July, August, September
Foliage:
Mid-green leaves are lanceolate to oblong in shape and may have subtle red veining. The leaves are held in basal rosettes in the plant's first year and then Alternately arranged on the tall, vertical flowering stems afterwards.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Lanceolate to oblong
Propagation:
Seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in soil that is well drained.