evening primrose

American  

noun

1. a plant, Oenothera biennis, having yellow flowers that open at nightfall.

2. any of various plants of the same or related genera.

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evening primrose British  

noun

1. any onagraceous plant of the genus Oenothera , native to North America but widely cultivated and naturalized, typically having yellow flowers that open in the evening

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Etymology

Origin of evening primrose

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Last weekend, visitors walking through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and nearby areas found tall, bright sunflowers, deep pink desert sand-verbena, basket evening primrose and even elusive desert lilies, which thrilled photographers like myself.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

At field sites in eastern Washington, the researchers collected scent samples from pale evening primrose flowers.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2024

Mexican evening primrose is a beautiful pink-flowering ground cover that is still sold in garden centers and nurseries, but it is also extremely invasive.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

These events, which usually peak in late March, can feature everything from desert dandelions to evening primrose to lavender lupine — and of course, plenty of apricot-colored California poppies, the official state flower.

From Salon • Mar. 3, 2023

Now the evening primrose at the side of the road has folded all its yellow petals, marking the near approach of noon.

From Some Summer Days in Iowa by Lazell, Frederick John