Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:

Missouri Evening Primrose is best grown in full sun - light shade, dry to medium dry, well-drained soil. They are tolerant to any pH soil.

Growth Habit/Description:

Low-growing perineal grows 6-12 inches tall with 3-5 inch wide flowers. Four-petaled flowers are fragrant, and form a tube before blooming. Flowers are yellow and only last one day, but as the flowers die they can turn orange and pink. The stems are red, and the leaves are lance-shaped with silver midribs. The seed pods are 2-3 inches long and ridged. Seed pods turn reddish-brown in the fall.

Bloom Season:

Fragrant, bright yellow flowers bloom from late spring to early fall, but only bloom one day at a time, and usually during the evening.

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

Yes. Missouri Evening Primrose continues to bloom into early fall, and the seeds change color to a deeper reddish-brown.

Host Plant for Caterpillars?

Yes.  Missouri Evening Primrose is a host plant for the 16 different caterpillars, including  the white lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) and flower moths of the genus Schinia

Other Known Ecological Value?

Yes.   Granivorous birds and tortoises eat the Missouri Evening Primrose. Moths are the primary pollinator as bees with typical scopa cannot hold the pollen grains.

Origin of Name:  Oenothera- Oinos: wine Therao: seek. Macrocarpa: Big fruit.

Related Plant Species:   Missouri Evening Primrose is related to Sundrops and other Evening Primrose. There are around 124 Oenothera species, and Oenothera is part of the larger Onagracea family.

Use For Food/Medicine:

Indigenous tribes used to boil and eat the stems, it has been used to flavor wine. Pounded roots were applied to boils, the entire plant was pounded and used applied to bruises.

Gardenia.  c 2025.  Plant Types:  Perennials:  Oenothera macrocarpa (Ozark Sundrops).  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.gardenia.net/plant/oenothera-macrocarpa-ozark-sundrops

Missouri Botanical Garden.  Plant Finder:  Oenothera macrocarpa.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e390

Spadefoot Nursery.  The Genus Oenothera:  Evening Primroses, Sundrops, Guaras.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.spadefootnursery.com/perennials-mo/oenotheraspp

Prairie Moon Nursery.  Seeds:  Oenothera Macrocarpa:  Missouri Evening Primrose.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.prairiemoon.com/oenothera-macrocarpa-missouri-evening-primrose#panel-descrip

Illinois Pollinators.  c 2023.  Missouri Evening Primrose.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://illinoispollinators.org/plant/missouri-evening-primrose/

Immel, Diana.  c 2001.  USDA:  NRCS:  Plant Guide:  Common Evening Primrose.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_oebi.pdf

Hawke, Richard.  c 2005.  Chicago Botanic Garden:  Plant Evaluation Notes:  A Garden Study of Sundrops and Evening Primroses.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no26_sundropsprimroses.pdf

Applewood Seed Company.  c 2025.  Evening Primrose, Missouri (Oenothera macrocarpa)  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.applewoodseed.com/product/evening-primrose-missouri/