Oenothera speciosa Nutt.

Pink Ladies; Showy Evening Primrose; Pink Sundrops

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Showy Evening Primrose is an introduced perennial in the Evening-Primrose family (Onagraceae). It was originally native to prairies from Missouri and Nebraska south and west to northern Mexico. It has been widely planted throughout the United States. In Alabama it can be found state wide. Showy Evening Primrose can be found on roadsides, in prairies, in pastures, and in vacant lots. It is an herbaceous perennial growing up to 2 feet in height. It is a perennial from a rhizomatous root system. The stems are green in color, pubescent, and have few branches. Leaves are alternate, sessile, elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, with entire to pinnatifid margins. The leaves are glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Flowers are produced from the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are 2-3 inches across with 4 pink to white petals. There are 8 stamens and the stigma is 4-cleft at the tip. The throat of the flower is yellow. The fruit is a capsule with many black seed. Showy Evening Primrose is often included in “wildflower” seed mixes, and plants can be purchased at many nurseries. It prefers a clay based soil in full sun, but is very adaptable. Showy Evening Primrose can become invasive in the garden due to its rhizomatous root system and abundant seed.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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