Oenothera glazioviana - Evening Primrose

Oenothera glazioviana is a deciduous biennial plant that thrives in full sun. It grows to a large size and its bright lemon yellow summer flowers turn red as they fade, emitting a powerful fragrance. The buds and sepals are also tinged with red. The roots, leaves, and seeds are edible. Perfect for wild and natural gardens as it can withstand both drought and cold!

Oenothera glazioviana, also known as Lamarck's Evening Primrose or Red Sepal Evening Primrose, is a species native to North America and belongs to the Onagraceae family. This vigorous species can form clumps measuring 1 to 1.20 metres (3 to 4 feet) in all directions, with large loosely arranged leaves and short petioles. The basal leaves are wide, lanceolate, and undulate along the edges, noticeably larger than the narrow leaves at the top of the clump. The deciduous light green foliage is borne on herbaceous stems covered with reddish hairs at their base. From July to August, clusters of flowers, more or less flattened, with four petals and a diameter of 8cm (3in), bloom in the sun. The flower buds are red, but once open, the flowers are a splendid bright lemon yellow and have the peculiarity of turning red during the afternoon fading. They only live for a few hours but renew themselves every day. This evening primrose is a nectar plant, attracting numerous pollinating insects. The entire plant is edible: the seeds are consumed like poppy seeds, and the slightly sweet roots can be eaten raw or cooked, as well as the leaves and flowers in salads or fritters.

This evening primrose is a biennial plant that thrives in full sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It requires very little care and is very easy to grow, making it an ideal choice for wild and natural gardens. With its reddish flower buds and long flowering period of beautiful bright lemon yellow flowers, tinged with red in the afternoon, it will be perfect for brightening up the back of a border, conquering a dry and mediocre slope, or flowering a meadow to attract butterflies and other pollinators. Pairing this Evening Primrose, with its lemon yellow flowers tinged with red, with perennial plants that have orange summer flowers will create a stunning effect. It will be the perfect companion for Coreopsis, Tritomas, Achilleas, California Fuchsia, shrubby salvias, or shrubby Potentillas.