Murdock's Evening Primrose
Oenothera flava
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM,Chris Light,John Rusk (www.flickr.com) from Berkeley, CA, United States of America,John Rusk (www.flickr.com) from Berkeley, CA, United States of America,Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM,Thayne Tuason,Provincial Archives of Alberta (www.flickr.com),Sharastar,Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. 7/1/1905,Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM,Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM,Patrick Alexander (www.flickr.com) from Las Cruces, NM
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Genus:
- Oenothera
- Species:
- Oenothera flava
- USDA Symbol:
- OEMU5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, moths
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire; found in fire-prone grassland and sagebrush communities.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light exposure. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI