Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Cutleaf evening-primrose

Synonym(s):

Raimannia laciniata

Genus species:

Oenothera laciniata

Family:

Onagraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

4 to 18 inches ft tall by 2 to 5 ft. ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

green

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Can be grown as a groundcover but probably best welcomed into a multi-species planting where its flowers bring color to an planting of low greenery.

Considerations:

This species can be weedy.

Availability:

Specialty Provider

Propagation:

By root division and seed.
Following fertilization, the ovary of the flower will morph into a capsule. As the seeds mature, the capsule will dry-out and eventually split, releasing the seeds. Readily self-seeds, the seeds can remain viable for many years.
Seeds available at Native American Seed (seedsource.com)

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds

Attracts native bees, butterflies and moths.  Especially interesting to native bees.

Bobwhite, mourning dove and gold finches feed on the seeds

Native Habitats:

Cutleaf evening-primrose is found most often in sandy and limerock based soils, and favors disturbed areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The seeds and leaves of this plant used for food and medicinal applications by the Cherokee.

General Comments:

As the name infers, the flowers of this plant open at night. Once the sun starts coming up, the flowers will begin to wilt. By night fall the flowers are spent.