PlantFiles: Narrow-leaf Evening Primrose
Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca

I got some from a friend who thought that they were buttercups. Just a few plants filled in under my mailbox very nicely within a couple years. That's a fairly shady spot (under the spreading branches of a big maple tree). They flower considerably, but all in one flush over a relatively short time. I've since gotten more from an aunt (who knew them as Evening Primrose) and planted them in a sunnier spot. I look forward to seeing the results in future years and hope that they'll bloom longer in the sun. I've got them with anise hyssop, which is blooming now for me, and I'm hoping that the yellow Evening Primrose and purple anise hyssop will complement each other well (my other planting of Evening Primrose in the shady spot under my mailbox was done blooming before the anise hyssop started). Not a flower to grow with short, delicate plants, but a great ground cover with dainty, pastel yellow flowers that have a soft, paper-thin, silky texture. Definitely never needs staking of any kind -- the stems are tough and almost woody. In winter, a small rosette at ground level persists, turning burgundy in my zone 6 climate.

I know this as "Sundrops". It is a lovely plant that, for me, begins blooming in early to mid-June and usually continues throughout most of the summer. I have it planted in drier soil than it prefers and so far that has limited its spread, though not its floriferousness! Small bees and other small pollinators like its bright, cheery blooms as much as I do.

In Denver this plant's leaves and stems turn red in the Fall. I love it for it's 2 season color

They have a really great sunny yellow color that goes well with my peptol bismol colored penstemon. They spread, but are easily dug out. I look forward to them in the spring!

Sundrops is a wonderful addition to my informal garden. It is aggressive enough to battle the bee balm but delicate enough not to overtake my whole bed. I started with a small clump from a local grower and now have several large clumps to enjoy and share. What a wonderful plant.

Absolutely stunning even in their first season. Mine are very happy in full sun and have been blooming for weeks now.

The red in the flower buds offset the yellow blooms very nicely. It took me a while to find them, but I'm delighted to finally have them in my garden!

Great little plant. Hardy grower. Stays green and grows flat to the ground in winter. Will spread, but is easily pulled up. Also, transfers very easily. You can literally pull one up and put it right in another place. No delicate digging needed.

I love sundrops! They're spectacular in a mass, and spread as rapidly as ajuga. I'm puttin' 'em all over the place and givin' 'em away, just a couple years after putting one in the ground - in the shade of a mature sycamore, no less! You can't go wrong with these beauties.

Planting them in dense shade keeps them in their alloted space, but severely limits their bloomtime.

These will fill up quite a large area and I find they do bloom for several months. They are fabulous for filling in those blank spaces of larger plants. They pull up easily and transplant to another location with very little fuss.

The buttery yellow flowers of sundrops are an excellent plant for a splash of bright color. They require little care and are tolerent of many soil conditions. They spread to fill in a large area but are easily pulled out if they out grow their alloted space.