Pronounced: ee-noh-THEER-uh sair-yoo-LAY-tuh (botanical Latin guide)
A low perennial with bright yellow daytime flowers and narrow leaves that usually have small teeth along their edges.
Photograph by Where’s Wildlife. Tap to browse the photos.
Family: Onagraceae
Bloom: June–August in the Upper Midwest
Height: 1–2 feet
Habitat: Dry prairies, sandy or rocky slopes, bluffs and outcrops
Other common names: Toothed Evening Primrose · Plains Yellow Primrose
Scientific synonyms: Calylophus serrulatus
Bloom timing and height vary by location.
01 · Four crinkled yellow petals, often notched at the tips
02 · Narrow alternate leaves with finely toothed margins
03 · Short upright or branching stems, woody near the base
Dry prairies, sandy or rocky slopes, bluffs and outcrops. Typical flowering season: June–August in the Upper Midwest.
Include a close view of the flower and a sharp view of the narrow leaf margins.
This sun-loving species occupies dry, open ground. Its yellow flowers open during the day, unlike many evening-blooming relatives.
The petals often look gently wrinkled, with a shallow notch at the outer edge.
Fine teeth can be easier to see in a sharp side-lit photograph than in a distant view.
Older guides may call this plant Calylophus serrulatus. It is the same species treated here as Oenothera serrulata.
Central Canada through the western and central United States into northern Mexico.
Observation maps show reported sightings, not the complete native range. Some recorded populations may be historical.
