Oenothera glazioviana is generally a biennial herb producing an erect stem approaching 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in maximum height.

When in bloom each flower has four bright yellow petals up to 5 centimeters long which fade orange to red with age.

At the time this taxon was important for the brand new study of genetics, the debate about the cause of evolution, whether that was natural selection or one of the alternatives such as mutationism, and particularly to the discovery of polyploidy.

[4] It is cultivated as an ornamental plant,[10] and has become naturalized in many countries around the world,[4] like Britain and Ireland, where it is the most common species of its genus.

[11] Under the synonym Oenothera lamarckiana, it is described as a very adaptable plant: however it needs full sun, average moisture, and well-drained soils.