Evening Primrose, Missouri

Oenothera missouriensis ‘Evening Sun’

Missouri Evening Primrose boasts brilliant yellow blossoms nearly as big as your palm!  The crepe-like flower petals are framed by gray-green foliage; leaves are narrow with distinct white veins.  This plant has red stems that tend to trail along the soil surface.  Despite such sprawling behavior, the overall appearance is a relatively tidy 1 foot tall mound.  Like most species in the Primrose family, each showy bloom is a “one and done” event – opening in the late afternoon, shining overnight, and fading away the following day.  An extensive bloom period and prolific flowers ensure a good self-seeding rate and season-long intrigue.  Fertilized flowers produce unique, 4-ridged fruiting pods that shift to burgundy and sienna hues with cooler fall temperatures.  #1 gallon