Charming, lantern-like cups of evening primrose flowers reveal their true beauty only when the sun is not shining. Known as "evening candle" or "night primrose", evening primrose is a true legend. Oenothera became famous for its bright golden color and special charm. This is one of rare plants capable of opening flowers in a matter of minutes and only in the evenings. Despite the fact that among the evening primroses there are also annual plants, exactly perennial species deserve special love. Moreover, caring for this twilight star is not at all difficult.
Bright appearance of perennial garden evening primrose
Oenotheras ( Oenothera) combine into one genus similar in appearance, but different in essence, plants from among annuals, biennials and perennials. The most popular representatives of the evening primrose family are perennial species.
Evening primrose is prone to rapid growth, it captures neighboring territories, creates dense cushion bushes from straight or creeping shoots. The crown is dense and delicate, lush, bright. The lanceolate, oval or feathery leaves of evening primrose densely dot the shoots, but provide only a neutral background for the fragrant large flowers. They are collected in pairs or in clusters of inflorescences, appear almost relentlessly throughout the summer and often almost completely hide the greenery.
Oenothera is an evening flower. The plant reveals its charming simple and such pretty “cups” only on the threshold of twilight. Moreover, the flower opens in a few minutes with a charming click, as if by the wave of someone's magic wand. Thereby unique property Evening primrose is often called the ideal culture for a meditation garden, inviting you to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy peace and quiet in the company of the wonders of nature. Evening primrose is a symbol of the end of the working day and the beginning of rest, the plant is festive and surprisingly spectacular.
Evening primrose has become famous as one of the most spectacular yellow-flowering crops. But really color palette perennial evening primrose is wider and includes white, pink, and purple shades.
The best representatives of perennial evening primrose
In our country, it is customary to call all perennial evening primroses yellow, although in fact there is no separate species with that name. Of course, all perennial evening primroses with dense foliage and goblet large flowers, which seem to be made of silk are similar, including in terms of cultivation. But each species has its own characteristics of flowering. To the most popular evening primroses suitable for growing under conditions middle lane belong to the evening primrose shrub, stemless, beautiful and Missouri.
(Oenothera fruticosa) - the most reliable and winter-hardy of evening primrose. Semi-shrubs about 1 m high conquer with dark oval leaves that form a dense crown and fragrant five-centimeter flowers of a bright yellow color.
(Oenothera speciosa) degenerates quickly, but is surprisingly spectacular. Its oblong leaves, together with flexible shoots, create an openwork pillow, on which cup-shaped white-pink inflorescences bloom en masse, as if covering the bushes with a veil. It is stored for the winter with digging out of the soil or grown in containers.
Oenothera Missouri (Oenothera missouriensis) is distinguished by larger flowers, reaching 10 cm in diameter and ascending shoots. Golden flowers look like curious heads, almost completely hide the leaves, which gives the whole plant originality.
(Oenothera acaulis) is a strikingly elegant representative of the genus. It forms rosettes of lanceolate leaves, from which, as if slightly embarrassed, bright flowers appear. On cloudy days and with the onset of darkness, funnel-shaped flowers with a light yellow corolla up to 7 cm in diameter shine brightly and catch the eye. greenery with yellow "lanterns" of flowers.
Garden use:
- for profusely flowering spots on the lawn or in landscape groups;
- on flower beds and discounts with shading;
- in rockeries and rock gardens;
- for the design of borders;
- in the foreground of flower beds and in textural patches;
- to fill bald spots and voids;
- for decoration of a flower bed-ring or flower beds near the recreation area and terrace;
- in ribbon beds and borders along buildings;
- in the front garden.
The best partners for evening primrose will be bluebells, lobelia, veronica, astilbe, ageratum - plants in which the texture of greenery and the type of flowering will be contrasting.
Conditions comfortable for perennial primroses
Oenothers do not impose strict requirements on the lighting regime. They grow equally well in partial shade and in the brightest sun, but strong shading is best avoided. In places where evening primroses will not have enough sunlight, they will release buds, but their flowers will not open by evening. In partial shade, evening primroses sometimes bloom during the day.
Select the soil from among light and well-drained soils. Pay attention to acidity: the soil should be neutral, fresh and nutritious.
Planting evening primrose
For successful development for many years and abundant flowering, before planting evening primrose, time should be taken to improve the soil. For each square meter you need to add 2 tbsp. full mineral fertilizers (nitrophoska) and about 3 kg of humus or compost. The soil must be dug to an average depth. The day before planting, the soil is watered abundantly.
Even in massifs, evening primrose is planted in individual planting holes. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly, in a place that is too hot, they are shaded.
Watering for evening primrose
Perennial evening primroses perfectly tolerate drought. In order to achieve spectacular flowering, it is enough to carry out additional deep watering 1-2 times during the summer, using 1.5-2 buckets of water for each square meter of plantings.
Top dressing for evening primrose
These perennials are not too picky about soil fertility and with the help of fertilizers you only need to maintain a minimum level of nutrients in the soil. For evening primrose, they are usually limited to one top dressing - 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate and superphosphate during flowering for each square meter of soil. You can replace mineral fertilizers and wood ash or fertilize with nitrophoska at the budding stage.
pruning evening primrose
Fading stems are not removed from this plant, because they do not affect the duration and effectiveness of flowering. If the evening primrose grows in the foreground and the plant is clearly visible, then it is better to remove the wilted inflorescences to preserve the aesthetics of the bushes.
The only pruning of evening primrose is carried out in the fall, when all above-ground parts of the plant are cut to soil levels.
Other care components:
- weeding or mulching for young plants (adult evening primroses do not give weeds a chance themselves);
- easy loosening of the soil;
- garter shoots to keep tall species compact.
Diseases and pests
When adjacent to diseased evening primrose plants, aphids or fungal diseases are often damaged. Usually it is enough to remove the leaves affected by fungi from the plant - and it will cope with the problem on its own. Spraying with fungicides is resorted to only in rare cases. But with aphids it is better to immediately deal with insecticides.
Preparing for the winter
Evening primrose is a fairly frost-resistant plant and does not need strong shelter for the winter. After all the ground parts have been removed, it is enough to mulch the soil with a layer up to 5 cm high. As protective materials you can use compost or peat. In the first year after planting, it is better to cover young evening primroses with spruce branches or a dry leaf.
Rejuvenation and transplant
Evening primroses quickly degenerate and grow very actively. If growth rates are too fast or signs of flowering deterioration in spring, it is better to divide the bushes and move them to a new place. Most often, plants have to be divided every 3-4 years.
Reproduction of evening primrose
These perennials can be propagated both vegetatively and by seeds.
Bushes form a large number of young shoots, and if desired, it can be used as independent plants. But it is enough and simple to divide large bushes in May or September, using large parts with a powerful bunch of roots.
Seeds of perennial evening primrose are sown in May in the soil and in April in greenhouses. They are deepened by 5-10 cm and until the emergence of seedlings they must maintain a constant light soil moisture.
Evening primrose is a herbaceous plant from the Cyprus family. Numerous genus includes annual and perennial crops with branched or erect shoots. The cups of inflorescences resemble wide bells that open at night. The plant is common in America and Europe, but grows successfully in temperate gardens in Russia. To many gardeners, evening primrose is better known as "donkey", " night candle or evening primrose. Small bushes grow quickly and require little to no care. They form lush curtains with fragrant flowers.
Botanical characteristics
Evening primrose is a herbaceous plant or shrub with a height of 30 cm to 1.2 m. Soft, juicy stems with edges are covered with a greenish-brown skin with short, hard villi. They grow straight or sink to the ground. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. Their shape depends on the type of plant. There are entire, oval or lanceolate leaves, as well as pinnately dissected leaves with a serrated edge.
The flowering period is June-September. In the upper part of the stem, loose racemose inflorescences bloom with large cups of white, pink, yellow or magenta. They consist of 4 wide petals with a corrugated surface, 8 stamens and a pistil. Flowers open very quickly, within 1-2 minutes, with a characteristic click.
After pollination, a multi-seeded boll is formed, divided internal partitions for 4 slots. They contain tiny seeds. In 1 g seed material there are approximately 3000 units.
Types of evening primrose
The genus of evening primrose includes about 150 species of annual, biennial and perennial plants.
Evening primrose perennial represented by the following types:
In the first year, the plant forms a branched green growth covered with lanceolate leaves with serrated edges. Their length reaches 20 cm. In the second year, weakly branched stems form a bush up to 1.2 m high. Spike-shaped inflorescences bloom in the upper part with sessile lemon-yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. Fragrant flowers bloom at night. Flowering occurs in June-October. The Evening Dawn variety looks spectacular - slender bushes 80-90 cm high are covered with golden-red flowers with a delicate aroma.
An annual herbaceous plant 30-80 cm high consists of branched shoots. They are covered with opposite light green lanceolate leaves. Since June, it is abundantly covered with bright yellow wide-opened bells up to 7 cm in diameter.
Growing a plant
Most often, evening primrose is grown from seeds. The plant easily self-sows. harvested seeds can be stored for 2-3 years. Seedlings are grown from them first. First, such small seeds are mixed with sand or sawdust and sown in pots or boxes with sandy-peat soil. Crops are produced in March to a depth of 5 mm. The earth is carefully moistened and covered with a film. Pots should be kept at a temperature of + 21 ... + 23 ° C. Shoots appear in 1-2 weeks. After that, the shelter is removed and the seedlings are transferred to a well-lit place. In mid-April or early May, you can plant in open ground.
Large bushes of perennials should be divided every 3-4 years, as decorative effect is lost in neglected plantings and develop fungal diseases. To do this, in October or March, the bush is completely dug up, freed from part of the earth and cut into several parts. Sometimes they practice cutting off part of the bush without digging. Delenka is immediately planted in a new place in fertile soil and carefully watered.
Landing and care
Evening primrose is planted in open, well-lit areas. It can also grow in partial shade, but with a lack of lighting it does not bloom and drops the buds that have already appeared. The plant prefers loose, well-drained substrates with neutral or weak acidity. Before planting, the soil is dug up with mineral fertilizers and compost. For each plant, an individual shallow hole is dug with a distance of 30-40 cm.
Evening primrose should be watered with care so that the topsoil has time to dry out, as the roots are very sensitive to rot. In drought, flowers are watered in the evening 2-3 times a week. If the plants are planted in fertile soil, then in the first year additional feeding is not needed. For the next spring, and also after flowering, the plants are fed with compost, a solution wood ash or potassium sulfate.
Several times a season it is necessary to weed and loosen the soil. This can get rid of weeds and prevent the formation of a crust on the ground. Tall plants need a garter, as they can lie down from strong wind and rain. It is not necessary to trim the withered inflorescences, re-flowering will not come from this. However, this procedure will help prevent uncontrolled self-seeding.
Most species are frost tolerant and can overwinter without shelter. In autumn, above-ground shoots are cut almost to the ground, and the soil is mulched with humus and peat, and then covered with spruce branches or fallen leaves.
Evening primrose is resistant to most plant diseases, but with improper care suffering from fungal diseases. All damaged shoots must be cut and destroyed. If an aphid has settled on a bush, spray it with an insecticide.
The use of evening primrose
Abundantly flowering evening primrose bushes are good in group plantings and landscape compositions when creating brightly flowering multi-colored spots on the lawn. Low-growing varieties are used in the design of rock gardens and rockeries. Sredneroslye plants can be used in mixborders and the outer ring of the flower garden. To shade evening primrose, it is planted next to bluebells, veronica, astilbes, ageratum and lobelia.
In some countries evening primrose is used in cooking. The thickened rhizomes of annuals are boiled and eaten as a side dish. Young thin shoots of perennials are used in the preparation of salads.
Seeds, oil from them and dry grass have medicinal properties. They are used in medicine and cosmetology to reduce allergies, fight skin irritation and itching. Due to the high content of vitamin E, the oil is used for application to the skin, as it reduces its fat content, improves tone and smoothes fine wrinkles. Tinctures and decoctions of the leaves are taken orally. They relieve asthma attacks, cough with whooping cough, and also have a fixing and diuretic effect.
Evening primrose-Oenothera acaulisEvening primrose is absent in the flora of Russia, its homeland is Chile, but this herbaceous perennial with a taproot grows well with us.
Belongs to very rare ornamental plants revealing its flowers at dusk. Lanceolate whole-leaved leaves on short petioles of this evening primrose are collected in a rosette from which a flower appears. The ovary is almost at the level of the soil, and above it rises up to 10-15 cm long a thin tube ending in a funnel-wheel-shaped light yellow corolla up to 7 cm in diameter. This form ( Oenothera acaulis var. aurea) plants are known only in cultivation. The stemless evening primrose, found in nature, according to numerous descriptions, has pure white flowers and often heavily dissected leaves, like a dandelion.
The non-flowering plant looks like a miniature hosta. From the end of June to the beginning of September, that is, approximately within 2-2.5 months, after sunset, as a rule, one flower appears above each rosette. It unfolds before our very eyes, in just half a minute. However, about 20 plants fit per square meter, and their simultaneously opened flowers look like a garland of switched-on lanterns thrown to the ground.
At first, after the bud has opened, 8 stamens with mature pollen rise above the corolla. The stigma lobes are closed at this time. After about two hours, 4 lobes of the stigma diverge crosswise. Pollen is carried by small nocturnal insects. After a visit by insects, the corolla slowly begins to tilt, while pollination with its own pollen occurs. At 2-3 o'clock in the morning the petals curl up, and in the morning we see a completely withered flower.
Each flower lives only one night, and the next it is replaced by another. Then, at the base of the rosette, very hard fruits-boxes ripen. They open at the end of September. Seeds are taken away by ants at a distance of several meters from the mother plant and germinate in spring.
Oenothera stemless - unpretentious plant. She feels good in the open sun and in partial shade, on relatively loose soils. Drought tolerant and winter hardy. Seeds germinate during winter sowing or after stratification. Young plants from seeds bloom in the second year. Easily transplanted.
Evening primrose can be used as a plant for rock gardens or a spectacular fragment of a flower garden. Almost throughout the second half of the summer, you will constantly strive to meet this flower - a symbol of the end of the working day and the onset of rest and silence.
Photo EDSR.
True beauty and magic will give night violet evening primrose. This flower is considered a mystery - it opens only in the evenings after sunset.
The plant is unpretentious in care and quite attractive, which is why it is popular with landscape designers. In order for the beauty of the night violet to be revealed to the fullest, it is important to figure out how to grow and care for it.
Botanical description
Evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) is a perennial plant of the Cypress family. AT wild nature it can be found in forests among shrubs, in glades, in river valleys. Territorial location: CIS countries, Far East, Middle Asia.
Used to create contrast in flower beds. It is planted in front gardens, rock gardens, along alleys and paths, which are illuminated by lanterns. This decision transforms the territory and fills it with bright colors.
Evening primrose is also suitable for decorating terraces and borders, and is used for cutting. In bouquets it harmonizes with ornamental grasses, ferns. At home, evening primrose can be grown in pots on balconies, after creating optimal conditions.
Night violet - unusual plant for the garden and home, which is not the last place in garden design. It will always symbolize the end of the working day and the beginning of rest.
Planting and caring for a beautiful perennial evening primrose will not cause difficulties, since it is not too whimsical and resistant to pests and diseases.
Oenothera, and in the common people - night violet, a flower of amazing beauty, blooming only after sunset. In just a few minutes, the evening primrose transforms from a blue-green bush into a bright lemon candle. About the conditions under which you can grow this flower in your garden, what care should be, how evening primrose lives in open field and which varieties to choose, and further discussion will follow.
Description of evening primrose: varieties and varieties
In culture, there are about 20 species perennial evening primrose. The height of this plant, depending on the species, ranges from 30 to 200 cm. Evening primrose flowers are large, poppy-shaped, most often yellow color, but they are also pink and white, have a magical aroma.
Fragrant evening primrose will brighten up your evening garden when other flowers close their buds.
The vast majority of evening primrose varieties bloom at night, but there are also those that bloom during the day. On cloudy days and in cold weather, the flowers are open all day. The lifespan of an evening primrose flower is very short - one night. And the next night will bloom already new flower. In addition to its beauty, evening primrose is also famous for its medicinal properties. AT traditional medicine decoctions from the roots are widely used for washing wounds, bruises, and decoctions from leaves and flowers - for indigestion. Essential oils are also produced from perennial evening primrose.
Common types of evening primrose:
Planting a plant
Planting evening primrose is most often done using seeds. Prepared seeds can be planted at the very beginning of spring for seedlings in pots and boxes, or after frost has left directly into the ground. However, in this case, flowering will come only next year. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm.
A place for evening primrose can be taken both sunny and shaded. An important factor there must be good soil drainage for site selection. Evening primrose tolerates a slight drought, stagnant water much easier.
Whatever place you choose to plant evening primrose, provide the plant with good drainage.
The evening primrose is undemanding to the soil, but it will feel very good in loamy loosened soil.
In May, seedlings are planted in the ground at a distance of 50 cm from each other. It is at this distance that the plants will feel comfortable. After planting, it is necessary to slightly moisten the soil from a watering can.
Advice. When planting seedlings, it is necessary to deepen it as deep as it was planted in pots.
plant care
None special care enoter does not require. Before planting, fertilize the soil, and so that young plants do not wither, remove weeds in a timely manner. Evening primrose endures dry weather, but it is still better to provide the plant with timely watering.
During the flowering period, wilted buds are best removed. And at the end of the season, the stems are completely cut to the ground. Shelter for the winter evening primrose is advised in cold regions, as well as where winters are most often snowy, but frosty.
If the winter in your region is quite warm, you can not cover the culture
Advice. Evening primrose tolerates transplanting so easily that, if necessary, this can be done even during the flowering period.
Fertilizer and top dressing evening primrose
In order for the evening primrose to grow quickly and bloom luxuriantly, gardeners are advised to use top dressing. Before flowering, evening primrose is fertilized with superphosphate, at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. for every sq. m. At the very beginning of flowering, it is recommended to fertilize for flowering plants or fertilize with calcium sulfate.
Before the flowering of the crop, feed it with mineral fertilizers
Attention. After you apply fertilizer, the plant needs abundant watering.
Plant propagation
Evening primrose is propagated most often by seeds, however, after several years of growth in one place, the evening primrose root must be divided. To do this, you need to dig a bush and divide the rhizome into several parts, which are then planted separately from each other. In addition, evening primrose can also be propagated by young stepchildren, who, in in large numbers appear around the mother bush.
evening primrose seeds
Diseases and pests
Enotera perennial, planting and caring for which do not cause any trouble, also pleases with its resistance to various diseases and pest damage. You are unlikely to encounter them even with minimal care for your flowers.
Evening primrose perennial: combination with other plants
When growing evening primrose with other plants, one should take into account important feature this flower. root system evening primrose is very strong and develops quite quickly. This can cause inconvenience to some neighbors in the garden if planted at an insufficient distance. Experienced gardeners recommend limiting the freedom of evening primrose by digging slate or metal plates into the ground around plantings, thereby reducing the space for root growth.
Evening primrose in the flowerbed
Enotera perennial in landscape design
In landscape design, evening primrose looks very good in group plantings. High varieties are best placed in the background of flower beds, and multi-colored bells, daylilies and delphiniums are perfect for their neighbors. Low varieties are most often planted on in compositions with and ageratum. If you plant an evening primrose along the paths and illuminate it with several lanterns or spotlights, then you will get a glowing path of flowers of unforgettable beauty. Choose the best combination for your landscape design numerous photos will help you. Don't be afraid to experiment.
Enotera in landscape design
Despite how unpretentious the evening primrose is perennial, for some reason its cultivation is not very common among gardeners. But anyone, even the most inexperienced gardener, can grow this beautiful flower on his site. Good germination when sown in open ground, undemanding to soils and absolute unpretentiousness of this truly delightful night flower will not leave anyone indifferent.
Evening primrose flowering: video
Oenothera: photo
