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Oenothera macrocarpa

Image of Oenothera macrocarpa

Maureen Gilmer

Family

Onagraceae

Botanical Name

Oenothera macrocarpa

Plant Common Name

Bigfruit Evening Primrose, Missouri Primrose, Ozark Sundrops

Special Notice

This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.

General Description

The romantic wildflower of American lore, the Missouri primrose bears large yellow flowers from late spring well into summer, later yielding large winged fruits filled with seed. A clumping but sprawling perennial native to the rocky prairies of the central and southcentral United States, it may become a pesky, self-sowing weed.

The leaves are narrow lances and medium to deep green, sometimes glossed, held on upright to often flopping stems that can have a reddish tint. Depending on geography, from the warmth of mid-spring to midsummer, this primrose produces large four-petaled lemon yellow to golden blossoms from the leaf bases near stem tips. Each flower is slightly fragrant and short-lived, opening in the afternoon and lasting overnight to dawn, attracting bees and daytime butterflies but the nighttime sphinx moth pollinates. The plump winged seedpod is interesting, and when split opn, spills its seeds to create new plants, often to the point of madness in some landscapes if conditions are right and competition from other plants is low.

Grow Missouri primrose in full sun to light shade in any average, well-draining soil that tends to be on the sandy and dry side. Slightly acidic to alkaline, limey soils are fine. Low and spreading, locate it in the front of a mixed border for best viewing, or allow it to naturalize in a rockery, shortgrass meadow, in roadside ditches. Subspecies incana occurs in the southern reaches of the native range and has more light lemon yellow flowers and silvery green foliage.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    8 - 3

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    6"-18" / 15.2cm - 45.7cm

  • Width

    14"-26" / 35.6cm - 66.0cm

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer

  • Native To

    United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Drought

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Spreading

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Gold

  • Fruit Color

    Light Green, Tan

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes