Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) Blooming At Night

April 21st, 2012. The Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) is widely distributed in Georgia but, except for the early morning when the flowers might still be opened, we only see them closed. We stopped at Fox Lake in the Clybel Wildlife Management Area - Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and I spotted a couple of flowers fully opened in the dark – the way they should be seen.

The flowers usually look like this when we see them during the day.

In the early morning, we might be lucky enough to see them open, but not fully open. Then I stumbled on them...

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in the dark when they were fully opened. I photographed these with artificial light. They are quite striking when they are fully opened.

Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose) is native to the eastern and central United States and in California. It also grows in Ontario, Canada. In Georgia, it grows in many counties throughout the state. Oenothera laciniata is one of three Oenothera species with yellow flowers that grow in this area. The others are Oenothera biennis (Common Evening Primrose) and Oenothera fruticosa (Narrowleaf Evening Primrose).
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Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- Name that Plant: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose, Cut-leaved Evening Primrose)
- Missouri Plants: Oenothera laciniata

Distribution:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Oenothera laciniata (Cutleaf Evening Primrose)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Oenothera laciniata

Related post:
- Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)