Evening primrose blooms in moist woods from June through August. Soft yellow, scented flowers open at dusk and stay open through the night and much of the morning. The flowers usually close by afternoon. Seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are pollinated by Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies) and bees and is noted for attracting wildlife. The plant prefers sandy to loamy well-drained soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant can tolerate dry or moist soil that is acid, neutral or basic (alkaline). It cannot grow in the shade.

This native bulrush blooms from August through September along pond and stream margins, in ditches and in wet depressions along roads. Many of the plants of this genus can be difficult to distinguish but all are valuable for wetland restorations and as waterfowl and small mammal food.