Pale Evening Primrose

Common Name(s):

Pale Evening-primrose

Pale Primrose

White Buttercup

Scientific Name:

Oenothera pallida Lindl.

Scientific Name Synonyms:

None known

Symbol:

OEPA

Description:

Growth Characteristics: Pale evening primrose grow 4-27 inches tall, spreads out to 24-30 inches, blooms May until December.

Flowers: Pale evening primrose has large, 2-3 inch blooms and a yellow eye. Blooms are white fading to pink. Petals have noticeable yellow/green patches at their base.

Fruits/Seeds: Capsules which are conspicuously 4-winged. 

Leaves: Pale evening primrose leaves are narrow and can be entire, toothed, lobed, etc. 

Stems: Stems of pale evening primrose are white and exfoliating.

Roots: Rhizomatous

Ecological Adaptions:

Pale evening primrose is found in semi-desert, and foothills systems. 

Soils: Well-drained, rocky, sandy soils. 

Associated Species: Pinyon pine, Utah juniper, shadscale.

Uses and Management:

Cattle seem to avoid evening-primrose. Young shoots and roots of some evening-primroses are eaten by humans.