Description
Oenothera versicolor | Orange Evening Primrose ‘Sunset Boulevard’
Orange Evening Primrose, also known as Sundrops and Suncups, is a bushy perennial in a genus of more than 200 species from the Western Hemisphere.
The saucer-shaped flowers consist of four overlapping petals with a silky sheen and a prominent stigma within. The blossoms are borne individually atop the foliage in late summer into autumn, popping open each morning in a sunny peachy yellow color, then darken to orange-red as the sun goes down, so its a constant show each new day. The toothed, mid green, narrow, lance-shaped leaves have a thick red vein running straight through the middle and the stems also have a reddish coloration. Dead head spent flowers to encourage repeat blooms.
Prefers a very well drained poor soil in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Quite adaptable to drought once established, but is intolerant of poorly drained soils. Readily self-seeds where it’s happy. They look great in the rock garden, in front of the flower beds, or in a container.
Easy to grow from seed.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature height: 14-18 inches
Mature width: 8-16 inches
Hardiness zones: 6-9
