Taxon: Oenothera biennis L.

Summary

Genus:

Oenothera

Section:

Oenothera

Subsection:

Oenothera

Family:

Onagraceae

Subfamily:

Onagroideae

Tribe:

Onagreae

Nomen number:

25521

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:346. 1753

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

03/03/1998 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

210 (185 active, 9 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Oenothera biennis L. subsp. biennis
Oenothera biennis L. var. biennis

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Onagra biennis (L.) Scop.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Oenothera acutifolia Rostanski, nom. inval.
Oenothera biennis L. var. sulfurea Kleb., nom. nud.
Oenothera chicagoensis Renner ex R. E. Cleland & Blakeslee, nom. nud.
Oenothera muricata L.
Oenothera purpurata Kleb.
Oenothera rubricaulis Kleb.
Oenothera suaveolens Pers.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Links

Seeds or fruits – Seed ID Workshop image, from Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Britton, N. L. et al., eds. ser. 1; C. T. Rogerson, ed. ser. 2. 1905-1972. North American flora Note: ser. 1, 1905-1957; ser. 2, 1954-1972
Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.
Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 180.
Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Mansfeld, R. 1959. Die Kulturpflanze, Beiheft 2.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:112.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Raven, P. et al. 1979. An outline of the systematics of Oenothera subsect. Euoenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. 4:244. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Skvortsov, A. K. 1994. Genus Oenothera (Onagraceae) in the former Soviet Union: taxonomy and distribution. Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol. 99:98.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	common evening-primrose		1	Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
English	evening-primrose		1	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
English	German-rampion		1	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
English (Canada)	yellow evening-primrose	Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 180.
French (Canada)	onagre bisannuelle	Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 180.
Japanese Rōmaji	me-matsuyoigusa		2	Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Swedish	nattljus		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Swedish	pricknattljus		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinese	yue jian cao		2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Transliterated Russian	oslennik dvuchletnyj		2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Nova Scotia		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Prince Edward Island		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas	e.	Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota	e.	Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma	e.	Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Rhode Island		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized					widely natzd. in temperate & subtropic regions
6	Other					exact native range obscure

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (e.), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota (e.), Oklahoma (e.), South Dakota, Wisconsin]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized (widely natzd. in temperate & subtropic regions)
Other (exact native range obscure)

Reference(s)

Dietrich, W. et al. 1997. Systematics of Oenothera section Oenothera subsection Oenothera (Onagraceae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 50:93.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Environmental	ornamental	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Medicines	folklore	Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Medicines	folklore	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicines	folklore	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=25521. Accessed 11 May 2026.