Botanical Name: Oenothera macrocarpa
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Common Name: Missouri Evening Primrose  
Plant photo of: Oenothera macrocarpa
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green, Red

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Parking Strip

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Missouri evening primrose is a sprawling perennial that typically grows 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches across, though through reseeding, it can spread farther. It has singe, 4-petaled, mildly fragrant, bright yellow flowers which open for only one day (usually open late afternoon and remain open until the following morning). Flowers are generally upward-facing, but sometimes rest on or touch the ground. Long spring to summer bloom period. Flowers are followed by somewhat unique, winged seed pods. Narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Stems are sometimes a vivid crimson red. Grow in rock gardens, perennial borders, parkstrips, and evening gardens. Many cultivars available.
Grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates poor and/or limy soils, drought, and some light shade. Easily grown from seed and will self-seed under optimum growing conditions (which is almost anything). Doesn't grow well in wet soils. This species was formerly called (and is still often listed for sale as) Oenothera missouriensis.