How to identify Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa)

How to identify Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa)

Narrowleaf evening primrose, also known as Shrubby sundrops, Narrow-leaved sundrops

Narrowleaf evening primrose exhibits a slender, upright growth habit, reaching heights of up to 4 feet (1.2 meters). Its foliage consists of lanceolate leaves, which often display a finely toothed margin. During blooming season, the plant is adorned with showy, bright yellow flowers, each with four distinct petals that expand up to 2 inches (5 cm) across. These flowers are borne in loose clusters at the tops of the stems and are notable for their daylight opening, a departure from the nocturnal habits commonly seen within the same family.

Lifespan: Perennial, Biennial, Annual

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Narrowleaf evening primrose

Bright yellow, 4-petaled flowers up to 2 inches across.

Capsule fruit with distinctive club-like shape, turning brown.

Slender stem, 0.1-0.2 inches diameter, reddish to green color.

Basal leaves lanceolate, 1-4 inches long, purplish-green in winter.

Daylight-opening flowers in loose clusters distinguish this species.

Detailed Traits of Narrowleaf evening primrose

Leaf Features

The leaves of narrowleaf evening primrose are notably varied based on their position. Basal leaves measure 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) in length, are lanceolate to oblanceolate, and may retain a purplish-green hue in winter. They possess entire or slightly wavy margins and are moderate to densely hairy. Stem leaves are opposite, narrower, and shorter, ranging from 3/4 to 1.5 inches (2-4 cm) in length, exhibiting a narrow elliptical shape.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Margin

Entire ,

Undulate

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

Narrowleaf evening primrose features striking, 4-petaled bright yellow flowers that captivate the eye. Each blossom measures up to 2 inches (5 cm) across, offering a sizable display of vivid color. These flowers typically bloom from April to August, making them a conspicuous presence during their flowering period. The petals are arranged symmetrically, providing a pleasing and balanced appearance. The radiant yellow hue and the size of the blossoms are key identifiers for narrowleaf evening primrose, ensuring its easy recognition among plant enthusiasts.

Narrowleaf evening primrose Flower image

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of narrowleaf evening primrose is characterized by its reddish to green coloration, which varies depending on the growth stage and exposure to sunlight. Covered in fine hairs, the stem has a slightly rough texture that can aid in identification. Generally, the stem is slender, ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.25 to 0.5 cm) in diameter. The branching pattern is typically erect and somewhat sparse, with branches emerging predominantly near the base and extending upward.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of narrowleaf evening primrose is a distinctive capsule, notable for its club-like shape at the apex, gradually narrowing down to a slender stalk. They exhibit a green hue that may mature to a dry, brown color as the season progresses. The fruits develop from approximately May until November, offering a long period in which they can be observed and studied. These capsules, which can range in length, are a defining characteristic for species identification and are typically encountered in the latter part of the plant's life cycle, following the flowering period.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Narrowleaf evening primrose and Their Similar Plants

Common evening-primrose vs. Narrowleaf evening primrose: What's The Difference?

Common evening-primrose is an herbaceous perennial plant recognized by its yellow flowers, which open in the evening and close again at sunrise. It is often cultivated as a decorative plant, especially in drought-prone areas. Native Americans cooked Oenothera biennis roots as a food source, but it is said that consumption of this plant could cause headaches and diarrhea.

Lindheimer's beeblossom vs. Narrowleaf evening primrose: What's The Difference?

Lindheimer's beeblossom (Oenothera lindheimeri) is a perennial plant native to the Louisiana and Texas regions of the United States. The Latin name for this species was formerly Gaura lindheimeri. Lindheimer's beeblossom is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in pots or flower beds. The plant grows well in full sunlight and can withstand drought conditions.

Pinkladies vs. Narrowleaf evening primrose: What's The Difference?

Pinkladies natives to the grasslands in the Central United States but spread outside its native states quickly. Today, it has been naturalized in a total of 28 states in the US and spreading as far south as Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico. Pinkladies is commonly used as an ornamental ground cover plant but escaped out from the gardens quickly.

Biennial Gaura vs. Narrowleaf evening primrose: What's The Difference?

Some may not appreciate the weedy appearance of biennial Gaura, but this flower has its place in building prairies. This biennial blooms late in the season, providing nectar for pollinators. It self-seeds easily due to its slender, bending stems that bob in the wind.

Lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink' vs. Narrowleaf evening primrose: What's The Difference?

Lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink' boasts delicate, star-shaped pink blossoms towering on slender stalks, rising above narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Thriving in well-drained soils under full sun, this hardy perennial exhibits a bushy clump-forming habit, making it an eye-catching addition to garden borders. Its drought resistance is a testament to lindheimer's beeblossom 'Siskiyou Pink''s adaptability to warm, arid environments, reflecting its prairie origins.

Identify Narrowleaf evening primrose easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Narrowleaf evening primrose

Attributes of Narrowleaf evening primrose

Lifespan

Perennial, Biennial, Annual

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

20 cm to 90 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Gold

Fruit Color

Brown

Stem Color

Green

Red

Yellow

Leaf type

Deciduous

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Narrowleaf evening primrose

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa)

Learn More About the Narrowleaf evening primrose

Distribution Map of Narrowleaf evening primrose

Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) grows in forests and rocky outcrops in the southeastern United States. Outside of this spread, it can only be found as an introduced species in Austria. This is neither an invasive species nor a popular ornamental plant.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Narrowleaf evening primrose

A Comprehensive Guide to Narrowleaf evening primrose How to Grow and Care for Narrowleaf evening primrose