How to Grow Evening Primrose (Oenothera)

Evening primrose gets its name because it blooms in the evening. Sundrops, another flower in the Oenothera genus, open during the day. The yellow or pink cup-shaped flowers appear in summer and the plant is a perennial (meaning it grows back year after year).

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Mulch
• Plants

Choosing Evening Primrose and Sundrops

1. Buy evening primrose and sundrop plants in spring or summer at nurseries or from mail-order companies.

2. Look for plants in 4- or 6-inch containers.

Planting Evening Primrose and Sundrops

1. Pick a spot in full sun with well-drained soil.

2. Dig one large hole to accommodate several plants or plant in individual holes.

3. Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.

4. 

   Position the plant no deeper than it was growing in the container.

5. 

   Place plants 1 to 2 feet apart.

Caring for Evening Primrose and Sundrops

1. Water the new plant weekly throughout its first summer, until it is established.

2. Water established plants only during dry summers.

3. Apply a light application of dry organic fertilizer to the top of the soil in spring; follow directions on the package for amount.

4. Cut back the old stems to the ground in early spring. A bypass pruner is the best tool for this job.

Tips & Warnings

• Some evening primroses, such as Oenothera beinnis and O. perennis, can be invasive - they may grow quickly and cover more area than you want.