With Debbie Rowland
Amy Ulmschneider
Master Gardener
The name Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) suggests flowers that open in the evening and close in the morning, but in the South, this plant blooms in the morning and closes in the evening. The botanical species name, Speciosa, means “showy,” and that's just how it is. It's a striking sight in your garden or on your roadside with its many shades of pink. It was said to be one of Lady Bird Johnson's favorite flowers, and with its gorgeous colors and ease of cultivation, it will likely become one of your favorite plants.
Pink Evening Primrose's native range stretches from the tall grass prairies of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri to the prairies of Texas and northeastern Mexico. But these different species behave differently throughout their range. The northern species are whiter and tend to flower at night, while the southern species greet the morning with a showy pink color. The plant is so popular that, with human help, it has spread far beyond its native range. Plus, in addition to being beautiful to look at, the tender young leaves can be eaten as a spring vegetable or used to make a natural yellow dye.
Photo by Amy Ulmschneider
The flowers range from white to pink with overlapping petals. Petal size ranges from 1.5″ to 3″. The flowers are largest in the spring and shrink as the heat of summer sets in. Once you see the flowers growing, you'll want to grow your own. Pink Evening Primrose grows from 12″ to 18″ and should be planted in full sun in cultivated soil. However, it will tolerate sandy, clay, calcareous, and rocky soils.
Best of all, it's drought tolerant. Plant in late summer to fall for blooms from February to October, or sow seeds in fall. Choose a spot with plenty of space, as this plant can spread and overrun an area, so plant it where you need a spreading ground cover. You can also use it as an accent in your lawn, but don't cut it until it's finished blooming or you're tired of the pink.
Pink evening primroses are known to reseed in different parts of the garden. They can form large colonies because they reproduce by seeds and spread by underground stems. Once they establish in your flower bed, they can take over, so be prepared to control them. The seeds are capsule-like and easily visible, so plant them in the fall and harvest them for next year. Small animals such as finches eat the seeds. Small bees and butterflies suck the nectar. Night-blooming evening primroses also attract beautiful nocturnal moths, including my favorite diurnal (daytime flying) white-banded longhorn moth.
If you're looking for an easy-to-grow plant that offers daytime beauty and evening drama, look no further: seeds and plants are readily available.
If you have any questions, please call the Odessa AgriLife office at 498-4071 or the Midland AgriLife office at 686-4700. More information and a blog with access to past articles can be found at westtexasgardening.org.[リソース]Please click on the.
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