Oenothera tetragona (Evening Primrose)

Oenothera tetragona
(Evening Primrose)

A cheerful native perennial with bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers that light up the garden in early summer. Blooming in June and July, Oenothera tetragona adds seasonal color while offering multi-season interest—its foliage turns a handsome reddish bronze in fall, and basal leaf rosettes remain evergreen.

Native to eastern North America, this species spreads gently by stolons and runners to form natural-looking colonies without becoming overly aggressive. In the wild, it’s found in woodland openings east of the Mississippi, thriving in acidic, rocky yet fertile soils. Adaptable and easy to grow, it performs well in full sun to part shade and average garden soils.

Details:
• Height: 12–18"
• Spread: 12–24"
• Zones: 3–8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Bloom Time: June–July
• Bloom Color: Bright yellow
• Soil: Average; adaptable
• Native: Eastern North America

A versatile, well-behaved native that brings early-summer brightness and subtle fall color to borders, naturalized areas, and woodland edges.