Oenothera fruticosa African Sun - Evening Primrose

Oenothera fruticosa 'African Sun' is a low-growing, hardy, vigorous, deciduous perennial with a very long summer flowering period of large very bright yellow flowers mixed with reddish buds which butterflies love. This Evening Primrose opens during the day in full sun and thrives in ordinary soil making it an essential feature of wild and natural gardens! It can also be planted in a pot on the terrace or balcony.

Oenothera fruticosa or Oenothera linearis, commonly known as Evening Primrose, is native to eastern North America and belongs to the Onagraceae family. The African Sun variety produces a rosette of basal leaves which hairy and branched stems rise from, tinged with red and bearing narrow leaves 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) long. It is a small plant, 30 cm (12in) in all directions which forms a very floriferous ground cover. From June to October, clusters of more or less flattened cup-shaped flowers, 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, bloom during the day. The flower buds are reddish, and the open flowers are a splendid, very bright yellow. The flowers last for a day and perpetually succeed each other. This Evening Primrose attracts many pollinating insects.

This Evening Primrose thrives in full sun in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It is a trouble-free, undemanding plant which is easy to grow, making it ideal for wild and natural gardens. With its light green foliage, reddish stems and flower buds, and long flowering period of yellow flowers, it is perfect in a rock garden or as a border plant, on a slope, or in a pot or container on a terrace or balcony. It is the perfect companion for Agastaches, Lavenders, Peachleaf Bellflowers, Blue Thistles, Wood Sages, and Scabious. It can also be paired with Russian Sage, California Lilac, or Marshmallow shrubs.