Abundance: common
What: young leaves, flowers
How: petals raw; young leaves (before flowers appear) raw or boiled
Where: yards, sunny
When: spring, early summer, summer
Nutritional Value: Vitamin F, some fatty acids
Dangers: Eating large quantities of these flowers may cause stomach distress.
Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.
Leaf Shape: The leaves are lanceolate to spatulate, typically measuring about 2 to 3 inches in length.
Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges.
Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire or slightly toothed.
Leaf Color: The leaves are green, sometimes with a hint of bluish or grayish tint.
Flower Structure: The flowers are large and showy, borne singly or in small clusters on elongated stems.
Flower Color: The flowers are usually pink, often with a paler center or darker veins.
Fruit: The plant produces a capsule-like fruit.
Seed: The seeds are small and enclosed within the capsule.
Stem: The stem is slender, erect to sprawling, and can be smooth or slightly hairy.
Hairs: There may be fine hairs on the stem and leaves, particularly on the lower parts of the plant.
Height: Oenothera speciosa typically grows to a height of 6 inches to 1 foot.
Pink Primrose weeds
Pink Primrose flower
Pink Primrose leaves
Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Bringing a spray of pink to yards and field, these flowers begin appearing in later winter and continue on through into early summer. The young leaves of the pink primrose are edible before the plant flowers. Luckily they mature in a staggered time so young leaves can be found among plants already in flower. The flowers themselves are eaten raw or as added color to salads but start with just a few as some people have an allergic reaction to them.
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