Oenothera fruticosa Sonnenwende - Evening Primrose

Oenothera fruticosa 'Sonnenwende' is a medium-sized deciduous perennial plant, which has purple autumn foliage, ramified reddish stems, and red flower buds. It bears beautiful golden yellow flowers throughout summer. A perfectly hardy plant for full sun and ordinary soil, essential for wild and natural gardens.

Oenothera fruticosa or Oenothera linearis, more commonly known as Linear-leaved Evening Primrose, is a species native to eastern North America. It belongs to the Onagraceae family. The 'Sonnenwende' variety is an upright perennial plant with a rosette of basal leaves above which rise hairy and ramified stems, tinged with red, and bearing narrow, ovate and dentate leaves measuring 5 to 12cm (2 to 5in) long. The particularity of this cultivar lies in its deep green deciduous foliage, which turns bronze to purple in autumn, wonderfully contrasting with the intense yellow flowering. It measures 60cm (24in) in height with a spread of 40cm (16in). From June to September, clusters of slightly flattened flowers, measuring 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, bloom in the sun. The flower buds are red, but the open flowers are a splendid silky golden yellow. A pollinator-friendly plant, this evening primrose attracts many pollinating insects.

This evening primrose is a perennial plant for full sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It is a care-free, undemanding plant that is easy to grow. It will be ideal for wild gardens and natural gardens. With its deep green foliage, reddish stems and flower buds, autumn colours, and long and beautiful bright yellow flowering, it will be perfect in a rock garden or flower bed, on an embankment, or even grown in a pot or container on a patio or balcony. A planting scheme with perennial plants with orange summer flowering will have a stunning effect. It will be the perfect companion for Coreopsis, Tritomas, Yarrows, California Fuchsia, shrubby salvias or shrubby potentillas.