Variety field guide
What to expect from Missouri Evening Primrose
Missouri Evening Primrose seeds produce yellow bloom on 7–12 in prostrate/groundcover plants.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Missouri Evening Primrose seeds produce yellow bloom on 7–12 in prostrate/groundcover plants. Perennial growth and Summer bloom make it useful for native plantings, pollinator habitat, meadow edges, restoration-inspired gardens, and seed saving. It is native to parts of the United States; match the species to local range and habitat.
About Missouri Evening Primrose
Missouri Evening Primrose is a perennial flowering plant with yellow color, 7–12 in mature height or spread, and a prostrate/groundcover habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Missouri Evening Primrose; mature plant 7–12 in. Botanically it is Oenothera macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa. Maturity or first bloom: Stage-based; germination: 14-30 Days at 65–80 °F. Best for native plantings, pollinator habitat, meadow edges, restoration-inspired gardens, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
History and provenance
Missouri evening primrose is the familiar garden name for Oenothera macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa. Kew treats Oenothera missouriensis as a synonym of the accepted subspecies, which is a perennial native from the central United States into northeastern Mexico. The plant forms a low, spreading mound and opens large yellow flowers from elongated buds, often late in the day. Its taxonomy and growth habit distinguish it from the taller biennial Oenothera biennis, so history and growing directions for common evening primrose should not be transferred to this species.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Oenothera macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Maturity / first bloom | Stage-based |
| Germination | 14-30 Days at 65–80 °F |
| Seed depth | Surface Sow |
| Plant height / spread | 7–12 in |
| Growth habit | Prostrate/Groundcover |
| Spacing | 18 in between plants; 24 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Sandy loam; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Drought tolerant |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Missouri Evening Primrose from seed
How to grow Missouri Evening Primrose
Botanical identity: Oenothera macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa. Life cycle: Perennial.
Sow Surface Sow and use a seed-zone temperature near 65–80 °F. Expected emergence: 14-30 Days. Use moist cold stratification or fall/winter sowing, then move seed to the listed germination temperature without allowing the seed to dry.
Plant during Spring/Fall. Space plants 18 in apart with 24 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, drought tolerant water, and sandy loam near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Missouri Evening Primrose may invest in roots before making strong top growth. Mark the planting, control weeds gently, avoid rich fertilizer, and judge establishment over more than one season where the species is perennial. Expected emergence is 14-30 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is Stage-based.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Missouri Evening Primrose is suited to native plantings, pollinator habitat, meadow edges, restoration-inspired gardens, and seed saving. Its yellow flowers and 7–12 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Saving seed
Choose several healthy, true-to-type plants rather than saving from one unusually early or large individual. Allow seed structures to mature fully beyond the ornamental stage, harvest in dry weather, and finish drying under cover. Clean out chaff and damaged seed, keep the lot labeled through every step, record isolation and selection, and store fully dry seed in a cool, dark, low-humidity place. Confirm the species pollination system before promising varietal purity.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Missouri Evening Primrose ready?
Stage-based establishment and flowering; no single numeric maturity is displayed because first bloom varies with dormancy treatment and season
How long does germination take?
Expect 14-30 Days near 65–80 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 7–12 in with a prostrate/groundcover habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Well suited to containers when drainage, spacing, light, and moisture are maintained
How is it used?
Primary role: Native plantings, pollinator habitat, meadow edges, restoration-inspired gardens, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:200 seeds
