Missouri evening primrose is a sprawling native perennial that brings dramatic, golden blooms to gardens from May through August. Native to the Ozark region of Missouri, this hardy plant grows just 9 to 12 inches tall but spreads 12 to 18 inches wide, making it a low, spreading ground cover. The real showstopper is its flowers: enormous 3 to 5 inch blooms with four bright yellow petals that open late in the afternoon and close by morning, releasing a mild fragrance that lingers in the evening air. It thrives in zones 3 through 7 and demands very little once established, tolerating drought, poor soil, and rocky terrain with remarkable composure.
18
Full Sun
Moderate
3-7
12in H x 18in W
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High
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The flowers of Missouri evening primrose are spectacularly large, often reaching 3 to 5 inches across on such a modest plant that they seem almost improbable. Each bloom opens in the late afternoon and lasts only until the following morning, creating an ephemeral daily show that encourages you to step outside and witness the opening. Growing just 6 to 12 inches tall, it sprawls outward in a relaxed mound ideal for rocky slopes, gravel gardens, and the rough edges of the landscape. It's genuinely drought-tolerant once established and thrives in poor, limy soils that defeat other plants, making it an honest, low-fuss addition to difficult corners of the garden.
Missouri evening primrose is grown as an ornamental flowering perennial, prized for its dramatic evening blooms and low-maintenance nature in the garden landscape.
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Oenothera macrocarpa is easily grown from seed and will self-seed under optimum growing conditions.
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“Missouri evening primrose is a native wildflower that occurs naturally on limestone glades, rocky bluffs, and prairie openings in the Ozark region south of the Missouri River. Its presence in these challenging, thin-soiled habitats shaped its character as a resilient, adaptable plant long before gardeners recognized its ornamental value.”