Find out about our latest events, ongoing projects, and how you can get involved with the Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee!

Upcoming WPPC Events

February 2021 Seminar is canceled.

Seminar: Due to the ongoing pandemic we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the February 2021 seminar. Please keep us in mind as we will be back with another great line-up of speakers in February of 2022!

WPPC Volunteers: Recently a group of WPPC volunteers traveled to Glacier Park to help the McHenry County Conservation District plant and cage several species of small trees and shrubs that were purchased with funds donated by the WPPC. Our members participate in many volunteer activities in the Chicago area including native plant presentations and education, habitat restoration and rare plant monitoring. Contact us if you’d like information on volunteering with our programs or with other conservation organizations in the area.

Garden Walks: We’re planning on a complete line-up of native plant garden walks in 2021. These are excellent opportunities to see how beautiful our native Midwestern plants are, and to get ideas on how to incorporate them into your own yard. Look here for details in early 2021.

2020 Garden Walks

LATEST NEWS

Common Evening Primrose

Oenothera biennis

Evening Primrose is a biennial Illinois native plant that can be up to 7 feet tall but is usually around 4 feet. there is usually a central stem with alternate leaves but sometimes can have multiple stems having a bush-like appearance. The light or olive green leaves are up to 8″ long and 2″ wide. The flowers can be about 4″ wide and open in early evening and last until the next morning usually done before noon. On cloudy day they can last longer. Flowers have a lemony scent and bloom from mid-summer into fall.

The plant prefers full sun, average moisture and sandy soil but will tolerate other growing conditions often found in disturbed areas. The plant forms a stubby rosette during the first year, but becomes tall during the second year when it flowers, sets seeds and then dies.

Source: illinoiswildflowers.info