Oenothera Species, Mexican Evening Primrose, Pink Evening Primrose, Pink Ladies, Showy Primrose
Oenothera speciosa
Family: | Onagraceae (on-uh-GRAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Oenothera (ee-no-THEE-ruh) (Info) |
Species: | speciosa (spee-see-OH-suh) (Info) |

Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Pink
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Fairhope, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Bowie, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Kingman, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona(2 reports)
Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)
Scottsdale, Arizona
Surprise, Arizona
Yarnell, Arizona
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Canoga Park, California
Castro Valley, California
Clayton, California
Desert View Highlands, California
East Richmond Heights, California
Fairfield, California
Fallbrook, California(10 reports)
Fortuna, California
Garden Grove, California
Glen Avon, California
Hanford, California
Hesperia, California
Lake Forest, California
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Merced, California
Mira Loma, California
Oak View, California
Paso Robles, California
Pedley, California
Pomona, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Rubidoux, California
Sacramento, California(3 reports)
San Diego, California
San Leandro, California
Sunnyslope, California
Tracy, California
Denver, Colorado
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ellendale, Delaware
Jacksonville, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Brunswick, Georgia
Dallas, Georgia
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Cary, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Philo, Illinois
Ames, Iowa
Pacific Junction, Iowa
Derby, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Ewing, Kentucky
Flemingsburg, Kentucky
Hi Hat, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Mc Dowell, Kentucky
Taylorsville, Kentucky
New Orleans, Louisiana
Slaughter, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Brookeville, Maryland
Millersville, Maryland
Severna Park, Maryland
Needham, Massachusetts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Brandon, Mississippi
Florence, Mississippi
Belton, Missouri
Elsberry, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Henderson, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada(2 reports)
Durham, New Hampshire
Lincroft, New Jersey
Metuchen, New Jersey
New Milford, New Jersey
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Corrales, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Binghamton, New York
Himrod, New York
Penn Yan, New York
Greensboro, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Waxhaw, North Carolina
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Columbus, Ohio
Dillonvale, Ohio
Ada, Oklahoma
Hulbert, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma(2 reports)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Altamont, Oregon
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Pine Grove, Oregon
Apollo, Pennsylvania
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Bluffton, South Carolina
Edgefield, South Carolina
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hixson, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Maryville, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Sweetwater, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(3 reports)
Boerne, Texas
Collinsville, Texas
Dallas, Texas(2 reports)
Desoto, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Harlingen, Texas
Hereford, Texas
Houston, Texas(2 reports)
Katy, Texas
La Vernia, Texas
Mcallen, Texas(3 reports)
Mission, Texas
Mont Belvieu, Texas
New Caney, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
Portland, Texas
Princeton, Texas
Quinlan, Texas
Red Oak, Texas(2 reports)
Red Rock, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Santa Fe, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Spring, Texas(2 reports)
Spring Branch, Texas
The Colony, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Wills Point, Texas
Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)
Fort Valley, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Bellingham, Washington
Amma, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Hillsdale, Wyoming
Kinnear, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Jan 16, 2020, natashka wrote: Germination is very difficult. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Sep 6, 2016, iwong51 from Lexington, KY wrote: Accidentally discovered a way to control this weed and improve its bloom season. In the spring, wait until it starts to sprout up before mulching right over it (2 inches of bark). The plant will eventually poke through the mulch but it takes a surprising amount of time (several weeks) and the new growth is thinner and appear in patches (rather than the solid swath). You can then pull out the patches in areas you don't want. The plant grows surprisingly slowing during this time. This will also delay the bloom time. However, because different shoots recover at different times, it will also spread out and extend the bloom season. |
Negative | 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. |
Negative | On Aug 16, 2015, Lyndi from Reidsville, NC wrote: I think when you buy a plant, it should be labeled as potentially invasive. This is a beautiful plant, but very aggravating. I've fought it all summer. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On May 29, 2012, honeysuckle2000 from Cary, IL wrote: i love this plant, very showy with its flower starting white and then turning pink. ofcourse is invasive, but easy to pull out(dont we have trouble with Dandelions twice a year :) ). has a light fragrance, planning to start a new bed under my birch tree and it can overtake the lawn(which looks very bad because of the huge tree and shade) ofcourse i have others under the tree, tickweed, lirope, anemone peony, pink butterfly bush, big leaf hydrangea, astilbe, ajuga, creeping phlox, etc |
Negative | 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. |
Neutral | On Mar 12, 2012, misbush from Sissonville, WV wrote: VERY VERY invasive! Buyer BEWARE!! This plant has jumped the flower bed and spread to cracks in the sidewalk and everywhere. I am finding it hard to kill without killing my surrounding plants! Any suggestions helpful! |
Neutral | 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. |
Negative | On Jun 23, 2011, Toots136 from Glendale, AZ wrote: When I lived at my old place, my next door neighbor had them growing along the front of her house. I thought the pink flowers were rather nice. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Nov 13, 2010, dontruman from Victoria, TX wrote: Native in my area of coastal South Texas. Evening primrose, often called "butter cup" even though it's pink. Noninvasive in its native environment; I don't recall ever having to pull one out of my garden more than once and never in my lawn. (No ground cover herbaceous plant survives competition with a watered, healthy, Saint Augustine carpet-grass lawn.) Creates an attractive carpet of pink flowers in fields and pastures during our hot, dry summers. Drought & heat resistant and thrives in poor soil. Another case of a plant that can go rogue outside its native habitat. |
Negative | 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! |
Negative | On May 5, 2009, morgen from San Luis Obispo, CA wrote: If anyone has had success in eradicating this weed that is promoted as a desirable drought tolerant xeriscape perennial please post it here! This plant is terrible. It seems like the more I pull it out, the more the underground octopus sends tenticles that pop up more than 30 feet away! When I pull the plants out I can see that they just break under the ground. It is a contstant battle. I've been pulling it out for 3 years now. I have tried Spectricide weed killer and that merely slows it down. Please HELP!!! |
Positive | 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. |
Negative | On Dec 1, 2008, Hemophobic from Kannapolis, NC wrote: Extemely invasive! Beware unless you plant this in an area that you want covered, you will be constantly pulling it up! |
Negative | On Jul 6, 2008, eyesoftexas from Toadsuck, TX (Zone 7a) wrote: Spread is rampant and prolific....very invasive, and hard to irradicate. |
Neutral | On Aug 5, 2007, felicia014 from Ridgefield, CT wrote: As stated multiple times, this can be invasive. However, it doesn't "choke" out other plants, just grows around them (in my experience). It just grows low around things as a filler. I found my cherry bells campunula to be more invasive. The deer like to browse it, which can be controlled with repellent. I am having a problem with Japanese beetles this year (first time in three summers) and this is a favorite of theirs. But that gives me a good place to look for them when I want to drowned them! With so many blooms, the deer browsing and pests don't create that big of a problem. I also have it planted with lavender, dianthus, peonies. It is a nice addition to a cottage garden if you want a breezy, somewhat overgrown look. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On May 22, 2007, flamingonut from New Milford, NJ wrote: Yes, it's invasive. It's taking over one of my beds, but, it blends in nicely with the other plants in the bed without choking them out. I've had it for about 4 years now, and I look forward to it each and every year. I'll be back in a few years to add any additional comments, positive or negative ;) |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On May 10, 2007, rachael441 from Severna Park, MD wrote: Plant stops blooming when it gets wet. Best to not water at all. It will stop blooming after rain. As soon as it dries out it blooms again. Very invasive in Maryland, be sure to plant in a contained area. Cut down in the fall when it has stopped blooming. |
Neutral | 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. |
Positive | On Apr 13, 2007, kathyinaz from Phoenix, AZ wrote: I planted one three years ago in a flower bed and it has spread out a little bit and filled out the flower bed nicely, but it is not so invasive that it crowds anything else out. |
Neutral | 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. |
Negative | On Jul 25, 2006, westdobson from Ann Arbor, MI (Zone 5b) wrote: Stay away from this pretty devil of a plant!! One small pot took over my whole garden and has resisted constant weeding and several applications of Round-Up. It has choked out and killed many small perennials. If this plant were a movie character, it would be the killer bunny in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." |
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On Jul 1, 2006, croclover from Lake Forest, CA (Zone 10a) wrote: I dug up some river rock that had been embedded in cement in my back yard when I bought my home, which had suffered from years of neglect. Underneath the cement were some strange roots. Because I was not planning on doing anything with that area, I turned it into a compost pile, covering the roots. A few months later, these lovely flowers came up. Although I think they are beautiful, I am going to pull them up because I don't want them to take over. |
Neutral | 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! |
Negative | On May 2, 2006, hekdek from Columbus, OH wrote: We have found this plant to be completely invasive. One plant has tried to take over our garden |
Negative | 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). |
Negative | On Sep 20, 2005, mmsharp from Hillsdale, WY wrote: This plant grows wild in Wyoming on the plains. A certain amount of moisture at the right time is necessary, or it doesn't come up in the spring. I tried cultivating it, but it did not respond to being dug up and replanted. None of the transplanted plants came back the next season. |
Positive | 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 more |
Negative | On Jun 27, 2005, pammyross from Mira Loma, CA wrote: Don't plant this in an area where you don't want it to overtake everything. Less agressive neighboring plants will suffer unless you are commited to hand pulling this pushy plant away from them. Yes, it's charming in a cottage or country setting, but be mindful of it's propagation by underground runners. I pinched a single sprig from a basket at a neighbor's house 3 years ago, stuck it in the ground (without a thought) outside my front door, and now it's everywhere, despite all of my best efforts. The stuff won't be eradicated. |
Positive | On May 31, 2005, Kim_M from Hamburg, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Absolutely beautiful! I love invasive...LOL. |
Negative | On May 12, 2005, hanna1 from Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: put in one plant, it keeps popping up all over, the more I pull the more come back, it's very showy, I should have listened to another customer in the store when she told me not to get it!!!!! |
Neutral | 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. |
Negative | On Apr 23, 2005, Forestwalker80 from Salt Lake City, UT wrote: I have found this plant to be EXTREMELY INVASIVE. I imported sandy soil to do my xeriscape so that may have something to do with the plants (unfortunate) success. I just spent the last two days trying to eradicate this weed. I am going to use Oenothera caespitosa instead-even more drought tolerant, fragrant flowers and not invasive. |
Negative | 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!! |
Positive | On Apr 4, 2005, angele wrote: When I bought my home an in-ground entryway bed was full of these. I pulled them only because I wanted the bed to be a cactus garden. I am delighted when the odd flower pops up and blooms. |
Neutral | 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. |
Negative | On Sep 13, 2004, ladyannne from Merced, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: One plant. One single plant covered an entire yard. We rip it out and cheer the rabbits that eat it. It's actually beautiful in bloom, but golly gee. Daily spring activities include beetle juicing, hand picking and squishing the thousands of Mexican beetles that invade these, then move on to my light roses. Roundup is useless. |
Positive | On Aug 27, 2004, pokerboy from Canberra, 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!!! |
Positive | On Aug 7, 2004, dante83r from Ames, IA (Zone 5a) wrote: I received 10 or 15 plants from my neighbor in June of this year and now have around 100 of them all over the place. When they pop up somewhere I don't want them to pop, I just pull it and plant it where I want some more of them. I'm constantly making new beds around my yard and love flowers that are this easy to grow. |
Neutral | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 1, 2004, ButterflyMom21 from San Antonio, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: This has always been my favorite Texas wildflower since childhood. For some reason, it refuses to naturally spread into my small acreage... but I have bought seeds (silly since there are so many free ones around!) and hope to plant them at the right time for a beautiful spring crop next year. I'm hoping it will be as "invasive" for me as it has been for the others here on the board. The area I plan to sow it in is a "wild" part of my yard, not my true flower garden area, so I will let it wander naturally around the area as it grows and reseeds and such. Wish me luck! |
Neutral | 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. |
Positive | On Jun 16, 2004, ritad316 from Apollo, PA wrote: This plant is amazing! I bought two little sprigs for 50 cents at the end of the season last year and it has filled part of my garden! Thousands of blooms that continue to multiply. And if I want them somewhere else - I pull out a bunch and plant them in the new location - and they grow! I have found it in areas that I don't want it - so I just pull it out...I've never seen a plant that is so easy, strong, and pretty! This is my first season for it, so we'll see what happens. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Apr 24, 2004, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: The primrose is a wonderful plant with beautiful flowers that make the country side totally charming during Spring here in Texas. I have a wildflower area in my yard that is gorgeous right now and a joy to all who pass by. The primrose together with bluebonnet and indian paintbrush presents one of the loveliest pictures designed by mother Nature. |
Positive | 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! |
Positive | On Apr 10, 2004, tdp123 from Richmond, CA wrote: I've had oenothera speciosa in my garden for 2 years, and I love it. I understand that it can be invasive and problemmatic, but in our heavy black California clay (East Bay of San Francisco) and hot summers, it's a winner. We have a sea of pink blooms from May to September. I just let it fill in around my other plants for a meadow effect. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Aug 2, 2003, Bairie from Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 10a) wrote: This is my favorite wildflower (south TX) and it comes back every year in the same spots in my yard. It has never been invasive. Maybe that's because over the years, different people have cut my grass for me and no matter what I tell them, they cut most of these flowers down. So I count on the same patches coming up again every spring, and they never have a chance to spread. Maybe next spring. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 21, 2003, Lavanda from Mcallen, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: I have observed the plant in different places (different plants) in colors ranging form white to palest pink to a deeper pink. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 19, 2003, Shelly221 from Denver, CO (Zone 5b) wrote: I also like this plant. If you don't mind pulling it, to keep it under control. The flowers are beautiful. It's a great potted plant. |
Negative | 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. |
Negative | On Mar 14, 2003, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: Invasive weed! I can't get rid of it and it never blooms as nicely for me as in the pictures posted here. If it would bloom and look nice in hot weather, I could forgive it, but it just looks scraggly. |
Positive | 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. |
Negative | On Jan 18, 2003, paulet wrote: This plant has taken over my garden, and I am constantly trying to weed it out. I have tried everything to rid my garden of this plant, but it comes back. |
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On May 27, 2002, Ulrich from Manhattan Beach, CA (Zone 11) wrote: To propagate in frost-free regions, dig up and replant bits of the rhizomes showing sprouts near the end of dormancy. Plant in containers to control rampant spreading. |
Neutral | 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. |