The two-year-old perennial with the striking, colorful flowers forms loose clumps and overwinters as an evergreen, basal rosette of leaves. The leaves, which are up to eight centimeters long, are located on upright stems, up to 60 centimeters high in some varieties. Bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers usually develop from reddish buds from June to September. But there are also white or pink varieties.
How should you plant and propagate evening primrose?
Evening primroses prefer a sunny to full sun location and nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Sowing takes place from April to June, while propagation takes place either by sowing or by semi-ripe cuttings in spring.
Which location does the evening primrose prefer?
Evening primroses need a sunny to full sun location. Where it is shady, only a few flowers form.
Which soil conditions are useful for the evening primrose?
A nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich, permeable and rather dry soil forms the right basis for a lush evening primrose blossom. The perennial tolerates moisture very poorly.
When is the evening primrose sown?
The seeds are sown directly outdoors between April and June, and the seeds should be covered with soil about two centimeters thick. In addition, the plant self-sows quite reliably. After the seedlings have emerged, you should separate them to about 25 centimeters.
When can evening primrose be planted?
Basically only modern hybrid breeds that cannot be propagated by seed are planted directly. Planting takes place in spring.
How many plants do you have to calculate per square meter?
Depending on the type and variety, you can plant between six and twelve evening primroses per square meter.
How is evening primrose propagated?
Propagation is done by sowing in spring or by half-ripe cuttings, which you can cut off from non-flowering shoots by early summer.
When does the evening primrose bloom?
The flowering period of the evening primrose extends from June to September and can be extended by regularly pruning back dead parts of the plant.
Good neighbors / Bad neighbors
Evening primroses harmonize particularly well with lavender (Lavandula), saintwort (Santolina), cistus (Cistus), spurflowers (Centranthus ruber), burning love (Silene chalcedonica), fine jet (Erigeron) or low sun bride (Helenium).
Tip
The cushion-like growing Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa) looks particularly beautiful when it hangs over a natural stone wall and stretches its cheerful flowers towards the sun. The undemanding perennial thrives excellently in the cracks of dry stone walls.
