Family Description

The evening primrose family is a group of annual and perennial dicotyledonous herbs consisting of approximately 38 genera and as many as 700 species with distribution primarily in the New World, with western portions of North America especially rich. Leaves are simple, without stipules with alternate or opposite arrangement. Flowers are 4-merous, showy and borne singly or in various inflorescences. Colors are in many shades with vivid yellows, pinks or reds common. Stamens usually number eight. The fruit is usually a capsule.

The most characteristic feature of the family is:

• showy, 4-merous flowers with usually 8 stamens

Plants in this family are easily grown, doing best in sunny sites with good drainage. As a group, plants in this family do best in cool, relatively moist sites or grow best during the year when cool, moist conditions prevail. Propagation is by seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate best with temperatures above 65°F. Pests are not common.

Important genera belonging to this family include Clarkia, Epilobium, Fuchsia, Gaura, Ludwigia, Oenothera and Semeiandra.

Oenothera missouriensis (left) with cut-away flower and Fuchsia x hybrida with cut-away flower (right

Representative Species

			click thumbnail to enlarge
*	*Fuchsia x hybrida	Fuchsia
*	Gaura lindheimeri	Gaura