Pronounced: ee-noh-THEER-uh per-EN-iss (botanical Latin guide)
A slender native perennial with small yellow, four-petaled flowers that open during the day.
Photograph by Where’s Wildlife. Tap to browse the photos.
Family: Onagraceae
Bloom: June–August in the Upper Midwest
Height: 9–24 inches
Habitat: Meadows, open woods and fields, often in sandy or gravelly soil
Other common names: Small Sundrops · Perennial Evening Primrose
Scientific synonyms: Kneiffia perennis
Bloom timing and height vary by location.
01 · Small yellow flowers with four rounded, often notched petals
02 · Flowers open progressively along the upper leafy stem
03 · Developing capsules have four conspicuous winged edges
Meadows, open woods and fields, often in sandy or gravelly soil. Typical flowering season: June–August in the Upper Midwest.
Pair a flower close-up with a side view of the leafy stem and capsules.
Despite the name evening primrose, these flowers are open in daylight. Only a few blooms may be open on a stem at once.
Eight stamens surround a divided stigma. A front-facing photograph captures these details.
Look below the newest flowers for developing fruits and above them for unopened buds.
The four winged ridges are especially helpful when separating Small Sundrops from other yellow evening primroses.
Central and eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States.
Observation maps show reported sightings, not the complete native range. Some recorded populations may be historical.
