Oenothera fruticosa L. var. fruiticosa

Narrowleaf Sundrops; Common Sundrops; Narrowleaf Evening Primrose

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Narrowleaf Sundrops is a native herbaceous perennial in the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Narrowleaf Sundrops occurs on roadside, in open pine woodlands, in prairies, and in rocky woods. It is a short-lived perennial with a fibrous root system. Stems are erect, glabrous to pubescent or glandular, branched, and green or reddish in color. Leaves are in basal rosettes and cauline. The basal leaves are usually absent at flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, petiolate (petioles often very short), linear to elliptic or lanceolate in outline, with entire, undulate, or toothed margins. Flowers are produced in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers open early in the day, and remain closed on cloudy or rainy days. Each flower has four bright yellow petals. The flowers fade to orangish-pink. The fruit is a club-shaped capsule. Narrowleaf Sundrops is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a sunny site with well-draining sandy soil. Plants can also be grown from cuttings or seed. Narrowleaf Sundrops can be used in pollinator gardens, in rock gardens, and in wildflower meadows. It is a larval food plant for the Pearly Wood-nymph moth (Eudryas unio).—A. Diamond.

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Native G5T5 (Global Rank)

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