California Evening Primrose

Also known as

California evening-primrose and California eveningprimrose

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Oenothera californica

Genus

Oenothera

Family

Onagraceae

Order

Myrtales

How to care for California Evening Primrose

💦 Water

How often to water your California Evening Primrose

California Evening Primrose needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for California Evening Primrose in your home

California Evening Primrose love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

California Evening Primrose does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of California Evening Primrose in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize California Evening Primrose

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for California Evening Primrose: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your California Evening Primrose after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Pinklady My daughter brought this home from the library today. They are pulling outdoor plants to replace with different ones. Can this be a house plant? If so do I just plant it in soil? How big of a planter? Do I need to cut it back?Thanks!

Browse #Oenothera

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

California Evening Primrose prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

California Evening Primrose Water Frequency →

California Evening Primrose Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

California Evening Primrose requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

California Evening Primrose Light Requirements →

California Evening Primrose Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

California Evening Primrose is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is California Evening Primrose Edible? →

California Evening Primrose Toxicity to Cats →

California Evening Primrose Toxicity to Dogs →

California Evening Primrose Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

California Evening Primrose does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for California Evening Primrose →

Best Pots for California Evening Primrose →

When and How to Successfully Repot California Evening Primrose →

What Are Healthy California Evening Primrose Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

California Evening Primrose should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize California Evening Primrose →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
California Evening Primrose can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

California Evening Primrose Temperature Tolerance →

California Evening Primrose Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with California Evening Primrose →

When to Plant California Evening Primrose →

How to Plant California Evening Primrose →

Where to Plant California Evening Primrose →

Winter Care for California Evening Primrose →

Best Companion Plants for California Evening Primrose →

Is California Evening Primrose a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in California Evening Primrose, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.