Narrowleaf evening primrose

Oenothera fruticosa

In other languages: Teunisbloem (Nederlands) · Onagre arbustive (Français)

This evening primrose comes from eastern North America and is a compact, well-branched perennial of 40–60 cm. Unlike most evening primroses, which open only in the evening, it flowers by day, with bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers of 4–5 cm at the tips of the stems. It does so from June to August, above dark green, oblong foliage that takes on a reddish tinge in some cultivars. A well-known cultivar is ‘Fyrverkeri’, with reddish-brown stems and red buds. A tough, sun-loving plant for a poor border, a gravel garden or the edge of a path.

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Full sun
warm and bright
Moisture
Dry to normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand or loam
any pH
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -30 °C
Size
0.5 m
tall, 0.4 m wide
Flowering
June–August

Key facts
Pruning months	March
Height	0.5 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	June–August

Identify

Narrowleaf evening primrose: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Compact, branching clump 40–60 cm tall and 40 cm wide, slowly spreading.
Foliage: Oblong to lance-shaped, 3–8 cm, dark green; in some cultivars with a reddish tinge and red stems.
Flower: Cup-shaped, 4–5 cm, with four petals, in clusters at the stem tips, from June to August; each flower opens by day.
Colour: Bright buttery yellow; the buds are red in some cultivars.
Fruit: Club-shaped, angular capsules holding many small seeds.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March

In your garden

Why grow it?

Bright yellow flowers that are open by day, for three months from June to August.
A valuable plant for bees and other pollinators.
Drought-tolerant and undemanding: suits poor, sunny soil.
A compact, well-formed clump in poor soil.
Completely hardy and very easy: one pruning a year is enough.

Narrowleaf evening primrose: where does it grow best?

Full sun for the richest flowering; in partial shade it opens up and flowers less.
Poor to average, well-drained soil: sand or loam, not too rich.
Dry to normally moist; it tolerates drought, but not the permanent wetness of heavy clay.
Plant 40 cm apart or in groups of three for a better effect.

Light: Sun
Soil type: Sand or loam
Acidity: Not fussy
Moisture: Dry or normal
Size: 0.5 m tall, 0.4 m wide
Hardiness: Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

Sage: Violet-blue spikes next to the yellow cups, the same sun and dry soil.
Catmint: A blue cloud of lipped flowers that contrasts beautifully with the yellow.
Lavender: Fragrant grey-green foliage in the same poor, sunny soil.
Ornamental grasses: Airy plumes make a soft backdrop for the yellow flowers.

Maintenance

Narrowleaf evening primrose: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

Plant in March–May or in September, when the soil is not frozen or too wet.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; on heavy soil mix in coarse sand.
Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil.
Keep 40 cm between plants.
Water in at once; after that only in long dry spells. Mulch with gravel or coarse sand rather than compost.

Care

Water: In the first year, water in dry weather; after that it almost always manages on its own.
Feeding: Usually not needed: soil that is too rich gives long, floppy stems and fewer flowers.
Deadheading: Cut off spent clusters for a longer flowering and to limit self-seeding.
Support: Usually not needed; in rich soil or partial shade a few twigs can help.
Dividing: Divide the clump every three years in spring; this keeps it vigorous and compact.

Tip: Divide the clump every three years in spring and replant the pieces: it stays compact and flowers generously. In rich soil it opens up.

Narrowleaf evening primrose: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before the new shoots appear. In summer, only remove spent flowers.

How:

Cut the old, dry stems to 5–10 cm above the ground.
Remove dead or damaged parts completely.
In summer, cut off spent clusters for a longer flowering.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division: In March–April, every three years: lift the clump, divide it into pieces with roots and replant at once.
Cuttings: In May–June: take 8–10 cm cuttings from young shoots, remove the lower leaves and insert in sandy compost. They root in a few weeks.

Narrowleaf evening primrose: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

Very hardy, down to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
In autumn it forms small leaf rosettes at the base; leave the old stems until March as protection.
Avoid a spot where water stands: wet feet in winter are more dangerous than frost.

Diseases and pests

Slugs: Young shoots nibbled in spring. Collect them in the evening or lay a ring of coarse grit around the plant.
Root rot: Yellow leaves and a limp clump after a wet winter. Improve drainage with coarse sand or plant higher.
Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather or dense planting. More space and cutting back help.
Poor flowering: In shade or rich soil it flowers sparsely. Give it a sunny spot in poor soil.

Through the year

March: Cut back old stems. Plant or divide.
April: Plant or divide. Watch for slugs.
May: Plant. Take cuttings if wanted.
June: First flowers. Watch the bees.
July: Full flower. Cut off spent clusters.
August: Last flowers. Water in dry weather.
September: Plant. Leave the seed heads for birds.
October: Resting. Leave the stems as protection.

Use

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

In English it is called ‘sundrops’, because its flowers open by day, unlike the true evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), which flowers only in the evening.
The species name fruticosa means ‘shrubby’, even though it is a plain perennial.
It is related to fuchsias, willowherbs and clarkias: they all belong to the evening primrose family.

Garden plants · All species