Missouri Primrose - Blooms That Open at Dusk

Oenothera macrocarpa, commonly known as Missouri Primrose or Ozark Sundrops, is a low-growing native perennial that produces some of the largest blooms in the evening primrose family. Its bright yellow flowers, up to four inches across, unfurl dramatically as the sun goes down, turning an ordinary evening walk through the garden into an event.

Outstanding Features:

• Evening Magic: Large yellow blooms open dramatically at dusk
• Drought Champion: Extremely drought tolerant once established
• Extended Bloom: Flowers from mid-summer through early fall
• Deer Resistant: Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits
• Pollinator Haven: Attracts moths, butterflies, and other evening pollinators

Growing Information:

Height: 6-12 inches | Spread: 12-18 inches | Sun: Full sun | Soil: Well-drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soil | Zones: 4-8

Planting Guide: Sow in fall for natural cold stratification, or provide 30-60 days of cold, moist stratification before a spring sow. Scarification is also recommended, since the seed coat is tough. Sow on the surface or lightly cover with soil.

A tough, low-growing native that rewards evening visits to the garden with some of the showiest blooms in the entire primrose family.

🌱 Missouri Primrose

Also called Ozark Sundrops, this low-growing perennial produces some of the largest blooms in the evening primrose family, opening dramatically at dusk.

Site Selection
Sunlight: Full sun.
Soil: Well-drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soil; tolerates poor, dry soil. Avoid heavy or consistently moist soil.

Planting Outdoors
Sow in fall so winter provides natural cold stratification, or chill seed before a spring sow (see Stratification below). Sow on the soil surface or lightly cover with 1/8 inch of soil. Thin seedlings to 12-18 inches apart.

Starting Seeds Indoors
Start 6-8 weeks before the last frost in a well-draining, sandy seed-starting mix, sown on the surface.

Stratification & Scarification
Required: 30-60 days of cold, moist stratification. Scarification is also recommended, since the seed coat is tough - lightly nick seeds or soak in warm water for 12-24 hours before sowing.

Watering
Keep soil lightly moist until germination; once established, Missouri Primrose is highly drought tolerant.

Maintenance
Minimal fertilizer needed. Deadhead to prolong bloom. Naturally deer and rabbit resistant.

Additional Notes
Flowers open in the evening and attract sphinx moths along with bees and butterflies during the day.