Oenothera Species, Mexican Evening Primrose, Pink Evening Primrose, Pink Ladies, Showy Primrose

On May 26, 2017, WolfSpirit from Mingo Junction, OH wrote:

I see many people dislike this plant but it came with the house and I love it. It is growing out of the lava rock bed next to the house and I think it looks fantastic all by itself, even when not in bloom it smothered weeds and was a nice green ground cover until late winter. It looked like crap then until it got green again. I think the sidewalk keeps it from going where it shouldn't, wish I could spread it to my weed choked (non-native) hillside, but haven't had luck yet. I noticed baby rabbits and toads hide in it.

On Oct 31, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

I no longer plant this species, and I try to eradicate it where I find it in clients' gardens.

It spreads very aggressively by underground stolons, which are hard/impossible to remove from the crowns of other nearby perennials. It isn't a plant for the mixed/perennial border. I find it jumps root barriers, probably by self-sowing.

It does respond well to 2% glyphosate herbicide, but to control it you may need to sacrifice any other perennials in whose crowns it may have taken up residence.

It generally doesn't grow taller than about 12-18"

On Jun 7, 2015, LarryScot from Needham, MA (Zone 7a) wrote:

I love this plant, it has bright pink flowers and spreads once planted. It is a strong perennial knowing that boston winters are a pain in the butt. Fortunately they always survived. My dad wants to dig them up but I forbid him from doing this because it reminds me of the times when I travel to Texas.

On Apr 10, 2012, davidkumpula from Fort Mill, SC wrote:

I planted this in a few of my raised brick beds last year as a mid-summer space-filler. In a matter of a month the runners were everywhere and overtaking everything even with diligent management. Flowers resulted in seed germinating nearby and quickly expanding its reach through all types of soil, plants and even robust turf-grass. I tried digging it up to no avail as even the tiniest remaining rhizomes quickly produced new plants. I was eventually forced to commit plant genocide with commercial strength Round-Up - which took not one, not two, but FOUR applications to finally kill the stuff. Heavy doses of pre-emergent and diligent watching of the affected areas will hopefully rid me of this menace once and for-all.

On Sep 17, 2011, GreatUnstopbLee from Las Vegas, NV wrote:

Very invasive. Can survive without being watered, even in Vegas. But my Desert Tortoise loves them.

On May 8, 2011, Spunkybart from Richmond, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

I'm located in Virginia, I like this plant a lot -- it spreads, for sure, but it's easy to pull up. It provides a nice mass of pinkish/whitish flowers.

I originally started it in a pot, thinking I would keep it from spreading, but it broke out of jail and is now a nice show of pink flowers as my other perennials are coming up.

On Feb 22, 2010, enroute from Chandler, AZ (Zone 9a) wrote:

Invasive. Invasive. Invasive. I hate it! Pretty on the outside--evil on the inside!

Be sure you and your neighbors are ready to have it everywhere! It was planted by my builder's landscape company all over my front and back yard and I am pulling it out daily in the hopes that I can get rid of it for good. It sends runners underground and pops up everywhere--in grass, from under large rocks, in far away locations too. Maybe it is also reseeding? I've only had it 6 months, or so, and it has covered anything near it. No need to spend money on it, just grab a sprout from some other poor victim and watch it take over.

Before you plant this, be sure you love this crazy thing--and don't plant it anywhere near my house!

On Mar 23, 2009, texasflora_com from De Leon, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

Why does the plant's description say that all parts of the plant are poisonous yet every other site says every part of the plant is edible and very important in medicine? Even one of the seed suppliers (J.L. Hudson) listed by this site says it's completely edible.

On Jul 6, 2008, eyesoftexas from Toadsuck, TX (Zone 7a) wrote:

Spread is rampant and prolific....very invasive, and hard to irradicate.

On Jul 28, 2007, hart from Shenandoah Valley, VA wrote:

This is a very drought tolerant plant and is great for a hillside or other dry areas where little else will grow. I use it along the strip next to my garage where the roof overhang and dry soil make it impossible to grow most other plants.

It is very easy to pull extras if it spreads too much.

If you shear it back to a few inches from the soil after blooming it will rebloom.

On May 12, 2007, bonrig from Saint Petersburg, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:

About 5 years ago this came up in my garden after I planted a wildflower mix and it has been coming up every April and May ever since. It is beautiful, but it also somewhat invasive. That doesn't matter to me because it only blooms here 2 months out of the year and then entirely disappears.

On Apr 22, 2007, Willheim from Morrisville, PA (Zone 6a) wrote:

This flower grows well in Bucks County, PA. My barber let me take a root cutting, and I now have three nice stands of Evening Primrose (soon to be two). Tolerates a little shade. If it didn't tend to be invasive, as others have noted, this would be a positive recommendation.

On Feb 14, 2007, mrspfaff from Madison, WI wrote:

This is a beautiful plant that spreads like the devil. (1 year+2 plants= covered about 40 sq ft) I resorted to letting it bloom and then cutting it all the way to the ground every year. In northern wet climates like mine- best to plant as a groundcover underneath eaves, so that it gets very little water. It is a little tall for an underfoot groundcover. Mine also has some interestingly variegated foliage and looks nice in the fall (although I usually pull it before then.) If this plant were a movie character it would be like the magical broom in Disney's Fantasia because it comes back as a million plants from every little bit of root.

On Jul 23, 2006, Primrose7 from Albuquerque, NM wrote:

I like this plant and I have no problem with it taking over. My problem is the little black worms that are taking over my Mexican Primrose. I was told to use Sevin 5%. It's a dust and since we have been having a lot of wind and some rain those little pests keep coming back. Anyone out there having the same problem? If so, please let me know what you used to get rid of the little black worms. Thank you.

On May 17, 2006, deafcat from Fresno, CA wrote:

Last fall we ripped out dozens of 30 year old, 40 foot shrubs that had grown into a solid green wall around the property we bought from the original owners. That not only got rid of the rats and ticks, but what was mud all winter is now solid hardpan that I can't cultivate, covered with these beautiful pink wildflowers. I look forward to having them do my work for me and take over a good, big section of this impossible yard!

On Jan 15, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote:

Wow! This is one of the most invasive plants I have ever seen! In it's first year it spread rampantly in soil that isn't much more than clay. It is beautiful, but I am going to work to get rid of it (or at least keep it in check).

On Jul 9, 2005, chunx from San Diego, CA wrote:

For Southern California, it's good for dry banks and areas you seldom water. Mine starts blooming in early March and goes until we get a light frost. HOWEVER....You need to trim these plants (a little beyond deadheading) to keep them blooming well. They reseed and spread to the point of becoming invasive, so only plant them in areas where most other stuff won't survive without ample water. These plants look a lot better than the typical iceplant you see here, but like I said, it needs to be trimmed to look good, whereas iceplant requires no deadheading. After seeing mine growing, lots of neighbors have planted it on their hillsides. In the heat of summer, you will see them wilt to nothing and bounce back by morning. I shoot a little water on them once a week during that time and th... read moreey come back and spread like wildfire.

Now for the BIG NEGATIVE - Do not do what I did and use it in an area of your flower bed that doesn't get much water. Although the seed packet said that it was extremely invasive, I became a moron and thought I could handle it. It looked great the first year when I started with 2 plants. It filled in the area nicely. The second year, it took over the entire flower bed and choked out my petunias, lavatera, and just about everything else. I got so tired of pulling out the plants by the handfuls only to see it emerge from seedlings within days, that I sprayed the entire flower bed with Roundup and repeated the process 3 weeks later when the seedlings emerged. It took care of the problem, but I had to replant everything. The more water, the faster they spread to the point of taking over the world.

On May 31, 2005, Kim_M from Hamburg, PA (Zone 6b) wrote:

Absolutely beautiful! I love invasive...LOL.
I think the negative comments are not fair on this plant. It does what it's suppose to do. Some plants reproduce better then others. Therefore be mindful where you plant it and give it the room it needs. I have found it to be full of blooms and constantly gorgeous! Yes it spreads, but don't put a spreader in a 6 foot garden...LOL. I have mine planted where it can be free.

On Apr 25, 2005, kate3835 wrote:

This plant (or a near relative) grows wild along the road in Kansas. I often admired it, and finally stopped to dig some for my garden. I live on 14 acres, so it could actually be pretty invasive and not bother much. I suppose it is proof of my inability as a gardener that I could not get it to grow. It lived for one year and then died out. I think I may have had it in soil that was too rich, considering it does so well along roadways where the soil can't be all that good. I will probably try again and locate it in some really sandy, poor soil.

On Apr 22, 2005, Happenstance from Northern California, CA wrote:

There should be an option for a DOUBLE NEGATIVE!! Never ever plant this is a residential garden unless you want a lot of weeds with a few pink flowers. They are impossible to get rid of and if your neighbors plant them you will have them too. A single 1 gallon can and 7 years later they are a constant presence in the garden, hundreds of little weeds!!

Did I say "don't plant these"......a negative for sure.

On Jan 17, 2005, JodyC from Palmyra, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:

Small bees collect pollen from the flowers, but are unlikely to pollinate them. The size and length of the stamens and stigma suggest that hummingbirds, large butterflies, or day-flying Sphinx moths are more likely to pollinate the flowers while seeking nectar, although I have not observed this. Like many other members of the Evening Primrose family, the foliage can be consumed by various mammalian herbivores, including rabbits, groundhogs, deer, and livestock.

On Aug 27, 2004, pokerboy from Canberra,
Australia (Zone 8b) wrote:

A most beautiful plant!!! I bought mine for $3.90 and forgot about it. It got very tall, wilted and began to lose it's leaves many times and when this happened I left it in a bucket of water ( about 5cm of it ) overnight.It always sprung back up!!!
Very tough and hardy. Now after planting in the ground it has been a sea of beautiful white blooms since Midspring to Now (Early Autumn)!!!, And is spreading wildly. Very beautiful and dainty. Always swarming with bees!!! VERY drought tolerant. Keep in control if you do not want it taking over desirable plants. Everybody should try this plant in either it's white from or it's pink form!!! pokerboy.

On Jul 9, 2004, tinygal2 from Sun City West, AZ wrote:

I live in AZ and planted this plant this year and just love the flower but right after the first 100 degree day some of the plants had no more flowers and one died, what did I do wrong? Also where on the plant is the seed and how could I transplant some of those shoots so they will grow where the one plant died.

On Jun 28, 2004, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:

I live in zone 7 and have not found this plant to be invasive. I do grow it in shade so that be may be a factor. My plant stays small with flowers almost as big as the plant itself. It successfully survived our winter here and started flowering the second year.

Editted on June 6th, 2005: This plant did not come back up this year and our winter wasn't especially cold.

On May 14, 2004, VegasDramaQueen from Henderson, NV wrote:

I love these flowers. They are taking over most of my yard, but that's fine with me. I live in Las Vegas where the temps can get up to 106 to 115 all summer long. It is very dry here and I am wondering just how often I need to water the primose. The say they're drought tolerant but don't say how often is often enough. Please any help would be appreciated.

On Apr 23, 2004, coache wrote:

I'm with all the other 'positives' out there. Known to the indigenous in So. Cal as Grandmother's Necklace, the "invasive" quality so obnoxious in crab grass is charming in her, and she doesn't choke out anything else. A decent weed whacker will cut her down when she's looking weedy, and your lawn mower will take care of her in your lawn. Now, if you're going for a rock garden, she's probably not your best choice, but in all other applications no other ground cover beats Grandmother's Necklace!

On Aug 7, 2003, PurplePansies from Deal, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote:

Very pretty, clear pink, papery flowers. Although they're not noted for their smell. I detected the nicest, soft, Earl Grey, or Bubble Gum? scent. Very easy to grow from seed and re-seeds readily. Easy to grow in full sun, tolerates a range of soils especially very dry. It's least favorite thing is probably very wet or heavy soil. Can be invasive, but is pretty in naturalistic, or wildflower plantings. Can be planted in the perennial border, but deadhead or look out for the seedlings. Easy to grow in more difficult parts of your yard. Thrives in poor soil, (don't overfertilize). A good xeriscape plant. A pretty, durable plant.

On Jul 28, 2003, mysterygirl wrote:

I'm new to CA - zone 8/9.5, and found this flower beautiful and easy to grow. YES it is invasive. I planted it next to lavender, which it blends with nicely, but towards the back of a weedy, non-developed hinterland where it can go where it wants. I haven't had a long experience with it, so I'll report back after a couple of years.

On Jul 20, 2003, mocloa from Hendersonville, TN wrote:

This plant has been growing in my garden for the past 5 years. It was originally 5 seedlings that I planted and I had always worried about it not coming back. It is interesting to know that in some areas it can be evasive. It is a nice addition that I look forward to every spring.

On Apr 7, 2003, swillitts wrote:

Although the plant blooms beautifully in Arizona, we have discovered a problem with this particular plant. We have it planted near our koi pond and it has grown so much that it started invading the water in our creek. After all 15 of my koi died I consulted a pond specialist who informed me that the stems secrete a type of poisonous resin that is toxic to fish. We have since cut the plant away from the water and haven't lost our newest fish as of yet. I'm not still totally convinced of this explanation, but felt it best to share.

On Feb 3, 2003, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote:

I like this plant, I can see where it can be invasive (even in zone 4) but if you put it in a area you don't mind it spreading in (a enclosed area) and it has to compete with other invasive plants it works well. The flowers are very pretty.

On Jul 22, 2002, Chili from Raleigh, NC wrote:

DURABLE...!! well suited for use in sidewalk medians/cracks/crevices as it tolerates mowing. Can be very invasive though removal by pulling seems effective.

On May 17, 2002, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

It can be a nice filler plant, but it WILL take over if you're not careful. I thin this plant by the handfuls several times a year to keep it in check.