Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don
Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don var. sabulonensis Fernald
Oenothera cymatilis Bartlett
Oenothera rubricapitata R.R. Gates
Oenothera parviflora L.
Small-flowered evening-primrose, northern evening primrose
The northern evening primrose is native to northeastern North America. It is an invasive in Europe, Asia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Plants: Biennials are 12–59″ (30–150 cm) high, with green or red stout stems.
Leaves: Basal leaves are 4–12 ⨉ ¼–1½″ (10–30 cm ⨉ 8.3–38 mm), lanceolate, with pointed tips and tapering bases. They have white or red veins.
Flowers: A leafy stalk at the top of the plant produces flowers atop, on pedicels ¾–1½″ (2–4 cm) long. Each flower has four yellow to pale yellow heart-shaped petals, and 8 yellow stamens. A cross-shaped yellow stigma is at the center. Behind each flower are four sepals ¼–¾″ (7–20 mm) long, which bend back toward the stem as the flower matures. The flowers open in the evening (hence the common name) and close during the warmest part of the day.
Fruits: Upward-pointing capsules appear below the flowers. They are ¾–1½″ (2–4 cm) long, generally cylindrical, and roughly banana-shaped. There are four lobes at the tips. Each capsule contains seeds that are 1/32–1/16″ (1.1–1.8 mm) long. Capsules mature to nearly black.
Habitats: Fields, disturbed areas, roadsides, at elevations below 3281′ (1 km).
Online References:
Camissonia strigulosa auct. non (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) P.H. Raven
Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don
Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don var. sabulonensis Fernald
Oenothera cymatilis Bartlett
Oenothera rubricapitata R.R. Gates
Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don
Oenothera cruciata Nutt. ex G. Don var. sabulonensis Fernald
Oenothera cymatilis Bartlett
Oenothera rubricapitata R.R. Gates
9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 16 × 12″ (41 × 29 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/28/2009 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1′ (33 × 33 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 8″ (18 × 19 cm) 
6/15/2025 · Morse Mountain Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/11/2025 · Waldoboro, Maine · ≈ 14 × 10″ (36 × 24 cm) 
6/15/2025 · Morse Mountain Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (49 × 38 cm) ID is uncertain 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 2′ (47 × 70 cm) 
6/13/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 24 cm) 
7/28/2009 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 2½″ (8.1 × 6.5 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/20/2025 · Peaks Island, Maine · ≈ 7 × 9″ (17 × 22 cm) 
6/15/2025 · Morse Mountain Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (48 × 36 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/28/2009 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 4″ (10 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (16 × 20 cm) 
9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 16 × 12″ (40 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Myrtales | Includes myrtles, leadwoods, loosestrifes, pomegranates, evening primroses, many others |
| Family | Onagraceae | Willowherb/evening primrose family |
| Genus | Oenothera | Derivation uncertain: 1. Greek ονος θηρας (onos theras), or “donkey catcher.” 2. Or οινος θηρας (oinos theras), “wine seeker.” 3. Or Latin oenothera, “a plant whose juices may cause sleep” |
| Species | parviflora | From the Greek parvus, “small,” and flora, “flower,” hence “small-flowered” |
Oenothera parviflora description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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