Sundrops

Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)

Narrowleaf Evening Primrose

Full sun, medium to moderately dry moisture level, regular garden soil, slightly acid pH.

18–24 inches tall, blooms late spring to early summer (May–June in Middle Tennessee) with bright yellow four-petaled flowers; spreads modestly — not overly aggressive.

Germination Code: A — easy from seed; sow in fall or early spring. Easiest propagation: bend flexible stems to the ground, cover nodes with a small amount of soil, and rooting occurs rapidly.

Native region: Scattered lightly statewide in Tennessee, most concentrated in the Ridge and Valley and Highland Rim Provinces.

Sundrops is one of the earlier-blooming native perennials, flowering in May–June before summer heat peaks, and is reliably drought-tolerant once established in Middle Tennessee. Unlike its relatives that open in the evening, Oenothera fruticosa flowers are open in full daylight — an important distinction from O. biennis (common evening primrose, biennial). Red-tinged foliage in fall provides a second season of interest. The plant performs well in the shallow, rocky soils of the Highland Rim and in average clay-loam garden soil without amendment. Attracts bees, hummingbirds, and seed-eating birds in fall.