Oenethera biennis, Common Evening Primrose, is one of the few special plants that support bats.  It is considered a weed by some, but given that bats need a bit of help these days, it is worthy of a place in your landscape. Its flowers open wide in the evening, emitting a fragrance that attracts moths, which in turn pollinate the plant. The moths are an important food source for bats.

Before the blossoms close each morning, bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators will sip the nectar. It is of special value to our native bees. Some of the species you see may be the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and the Sphinx Moth. Birds, including goldfinches, snack on the seed produced by Evening Primrose.  The caterpillars of several moth species feed on the foliage.

This simple plant is a great example of the complex web of the ecosystem, with so many creatures depending on it for survival.

It is a biennial, which means each plant lives for two years.  It sets plentiful seed so will persist in the landscape from year to year.  The first year it forms a stubby rosette that hugs the ground.  The second year it shoots up in height, blooms, and sets the seed for next year’s plant.

Whether you are planning a moon garden for evening enjoyment, want to support bats or pollinators, or need a great example plant to teach others the intricacies of the ecosystem, this is a plant to include in your landscape.