Plants of Louisiana

Oenothera speciosa

showy evening-primrose, showy evening primrose, showy eveningprimrose, pinkladies, pink evening primrose, mexican evening primrose, showy primrose, pink ladies, buttercups, pink buttercups, amapola del campo
Family

Onagraceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

pinnatifid, sinuate, subentire, toothed

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

oblong, lanceolate, oblanceolate, obovate

Growth Form

forb, shrub

Flower Color

pink, purple, white

Flower Petals

4

Flower Month

February - October

Height (meters)

0.1 - 0.8

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Cool season

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

2

Field Characters

Toothed alternate leaves with distinctive white vein. Flower pink, 4 petals, 8 stamens, 2 inch diameter.

Cultural Information

Seed germination for all members of the genus oenothera is reported to be improved by cold/moist stratification (Steffen 1997). Seeds average approximately 1,700,000/lb.

Animal Use

Seed capsules attract birds, especially finches, and various mammals.This plant is also a special value to native bees.

Natural History

Found in prairies and open woodlands throughout Louisiana and Texas. In south Louisiana and Texas it is a roadside weed. Mexican evening-primrose ranges from Kansas and Missouri to northeast Mexico. It is possible that evening primroses are edible as none have been reported poisonous (Harrington 1967).

Habitat

Fields and roadsides, common in rocky prairies, open woodlands, and waste places.