Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) is a night bloomer, producing large white flowers that start to open in late afternoon and on into the night. The fragrant blossoms appear to glow in the dark while attracting nighttime pollinators. Once the sun begins to rise, the white blooms fade to a lovely shade of pink that decorates the garden throughout the day.

The cold hardiness of this western U.S. native and its ability to grow in places with hot summers make tufted evening primrose a great choice for areas where a low-growing, flowering perennial is desired. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Botanical name: Oenothera caespitosa
Common names: Tufted evening primrose, fragrant evening primrose, white evening primrose, gumbo lily
Origin: Native to the higher-elevation regions (4,500 to 7,500 feet) of the western United States and Canada
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 28.9 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 5; find your zone)
Water requirement: Low to moderate; needs deep watering every 10 days in summer (weekly in low-desert zones), every two weeks in spring and fall, and monthly in winter
Light requirement: Full sun (light shade in low-desert gardens)
Mature size: 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Drought-tolerant; attractive to nocturnal pollinators, including moths; deer-resistant
Seasonal interest: Flowers from spring to late summer
When to plant: Spring in all zones and fall for zones 8 and above Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Distinguishing traits. Large white flowers draw you closer with their beauty as well as their sweet fragrance, reminiscent of wild primroses. Each blossom lasts one day and is made up of four heart-shaped petals surrounding prominent yellow stamens. In late afternoon, the petals begin to unfurl and remain open until the following morning, when they close and turn pink.

The white flowers are borne above narrow dark green leaves that have serrated edges. The 5-inch-long leaves are covered in tiny hairs, giving them a fuzzy texture. The leaves die back to the ground in zones 7 and below but grow back quickly in spring.

In the landscape, a typical tufted evening primrose plant is actually made up of several small plants, creating an attractive mounded growth habit. They are short-lived, like many perennials, but self-seed to provide replacement plants. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Tufted evening primrose grows in the foreground with the pink blossoms of Mexican evening primrose (Oenothera berlandieri) growing up against the spiky canes of an ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens).

How to use it. Plant in groups of three along a curved walkway to add beauty during the day and create unexpected interest at night, when their bright white flowers pick up the light from the moon.

Create a colorful perennial bed filled with drought-tolerant favorites like autumn sage (Salvia greggii), Mexican bush sage (S. leucantha), Parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi), as well as other penstemon species, and South American mock vervain (Glandularia pulchella).

Plant alongside succulents like Parry’s agave (Agave parryi), candelilla (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) and golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) for attractive color contrast.

Use tufted evening primrose in a wildflower garden, where its blossoms will continue to bloom after some wildflowers have faded. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Planting notes. Tufted evening primrose isn’t fussy but does best in well-drained soil. Plant in full sun for maximum flowering (filtered shade in low-desert zones). Remove any dead growth at the beginning of spring.

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