The charming cups of evening primrose flowers, similar to shining lanterns, reveal their true beauty only when the sun is not shining. Known as “evening candle” or “night primrose”, evening primrose is a legend. Enotera became famous for its bright golden color and special charm. This is one of rare plantsable to open flowers in a matter of minutes and only in the evenings. Despite the fact that among evening primrose there are also annual plants, exactly perennial species deserve special love. Moreover, looking after this twilight star is not at all difficult.
Striking appearance of perennial garden evening primrose
Evening primrose ( Oenothera) unite into one genus similar in appearance, but different in essence, plants from the number of annuals, biennials and perennials. Perennial species are the most popular representatives of the evening primrose family.
Evening primrose is prone to rapid growth, it captures neighboring territories, creates dense cushion bushes from straight or creeping shoots. The crown is thick and delicate, lush, bright. Lanceolate, oval or feathery evening primrose leaves densely dot the shoots, but create only a neutral background for fragrant large flowers. They are collected in pairs or in a cluster of inflorescences, appear almost tirelessly throughout the summer and often almost completely hide the greenery.
Enotera is an evening flower. The plant reveals its charming simple and such pretty "cups" only on the threshold of dusk. 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 meditative garden, inviting you to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the peace and quiet in the company of the wonders of nature. Enotera is a symbol of the end of the working day and the beginning of rest, a festive and surprisingly spectacular plant.
Evening primrose has become famous as one of the most spectacular yellow-flowering crops. But actually color palette perennial evening primrose flowers are wider and include white, pink, and purple hues.
The best representatives of perennial evening primrose
In our country, all perennial evening primrose is usually called yellow, although in fact there is no separate species with such a name. Of course, all perennial evening primrose with dense foliage and goblet large flowers, which seem to be made of silk, are similar, including in terms of cultivation. But each species also has its own flowering characteristics. To the most popular evening primrose plants suitable for growing in conditions middle band belong evening primrose, 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 bright yellow color.
(Oenothera speciosa) quickly degenerates, but surprisingly effective. 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 blanket. It is stored for the winter with digging from the soil or grown in containers.
Evening primrose missouri (Oenothera missouriensis) is distinguished by larger flowers, reaching 10 cm in diameter, and rising shoots. The golden flowers seem to be curious heads, almost completely hiding the leaves, which gives the whole plant originality.
(Oenothera acaulis) Is an amazingly graceful representative of the genus. She forms rosettes of lanceolate leaves, from which, as if slightly shy, 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.Enothera leaves and the nature of its growth more likely resemble hosts, but during flowering the plant transforms, hiding behind rare, but surprisingly bright against the background of cold greenery with yellow "lanterns" of flowers.
Use in garden decoration:
- for blooming spots on the lawn or in landscape groups;
- on flower beds and beds with shading;
- in rockeries and rock gardens;
- for the design of borders;
- in the foreground of flower beds and in texture spots;
- to fill bald spots and voids;
- for decorating flower beds 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 bells, lobelia, veronica, astilba, ageratum - plants in which the texture of greenery and the type of flowering will be contrasting.
Comfortable conditions for perennial evening primrose
Evening primrose does not have strict requirements for 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 primrose will not have enough sunlight, they will release buds, but their flowers will not open by evening. In partial shade, evening primrose flowers sometimes bloom during the day.
Select the soil from among light and well-drained soils. Pay attention to the acidity: the soil must be neutral, fresh and nutritious.
Planting evening primrose
For successful development for many years and abundant flowering, time should be taken to improve the soil before planting evening primrose. For every square meter you need to make 2 tbsp. full of 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.
Evening primrose, even in massifs, is planted in individual planting holes. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly, in a too hot place, they are shaded.
Watering for evening primrose
Perennial evening primrose plants tolerate drought well. In order to achieve spectacular flowering, it is enough 1-2 times over the summer to carry out additional deep watering, using 1.5-2 buckets of water for each square meter of plantings.
Top dressing for evening primrose
These perennials are not very demanding on 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 with wood ash or fertilize with nitrophos at the budding stage.
Pruning evening primrose
The flowering stems are not removed from this plant, because they do not affect the duration and effectiveness of flowering. If evening primrose grows in the foreground and the plant is clearly visible, then wilted inflorescences are best removed to preserve the aesthetics of the bushes.
The only pruning of evening primrose is done in the fall, when all aboveground parts of the plant are cut to soil levels.
Other components of care:
- weeding or mulching for young plants (adult evening primrose plants do not give weeds a chance themselves);
- light loosening of the soil;
- garter shoots to maintain the compactness of tall species.
Diseases and pests
In the vicinity of diseased plants, evening primrose is often damaged by aphids or fungal diseases. 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 used only in rare cases. But with aphids it is better to immediately fight with insecticides.
Preparation for wintering
Enotera is a fairly hardy plant and does not need a strong shelter for the winter. After all the above-ground parts are removed, it is enough to mulch the soil with a layer up to 5 cm high. protective materials you can use compost or peat. In the first year after planting, it is better to cover young evening primrose with spruce branches or a dry leaf.
Rejuvenation and transplant
Evening primrose degenerates rather quickly and grows very actively. If the growth rate is too fast or there are signs of deterioration of flowering in spring, it is better to divide the bushes and transfer to a new place. Most often, you have to divide the plants every 3-4 years.
Evening primrose reproduction
These perennials can be propagated both vegetatively and by seeds.
Bushes form a large number of young growth, and it can be used as independent plants if desired. 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 the soil in May and in greenhouses in April. They are buried by 5-10 cm and, before the emergence of shoots, they must always maintain a constant light moisture content of the soil.
Enotera is a herbaceous plant from the Cyprus family. The numerous genus includes annual and perennial crops with branched or erect shoots. The cups of the inflorescences resemble wide bells that open at night. The plant is widespread in America and Europe, but grows successfully in the gardens of the temperate climate of Russia. Evening primrose is better known to many gardeners under the name "donkey", " night candle"Or" evening primrose ". Small bushes grow quickly and require little or no maintenance. They form lush clumps of fragrant flowers.
Botanical characteristics
Evening primrose is a herb 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 fibers. They grow straight or sink to the ground. The leaves on the stem are arranged alternately. Their shape depends on the type of plant. There are whole-edged, oval or lanceolate leaves, as well as pinnately dissected leaves with a serrated edge.
The flowering period is from June to September. In the upper part of the stem, loose racemose inflorescences 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 polyspermous capsule is formed, divided internal partitions 4 slots. They contain the smallest seeds. 1 g seed material there are approximately 3000 units.
Evening primrose species
The evening primrose genus includes about 150 species of annuals, biennials and perennials.
Enotera perennial represented by the following types:
In the first year, the plant forms a branched green growth covered with lanceolate leaves with jagged edges. Their length reaches 20 cm. In the second year, weakly branched stems form a bush up to 1.2 m high. In the upper part, spike-shaped inflorescences with sessile lemon-yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter bloom. Fragrant flowers bloom at night. Flowering occurs in June-October. The variety "Vechernyaya Zarya" looks spectacular - slender bushes 80-90 cm high are covered with golden-red flowers with a delicate aroma.
An annual herb 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-open bells up to 7 cm in diameter.
Growing a plant
Most often, evening primrose is grown from seeds. The plant self-seeds easily. Collected seeds can be stored for 2-3 years. Seedlings are preliminarily grown from them. First, such small seeds are mixed with sand or sawdust and sown in pots or boxes with sandy-peat soil. Sowing is carried out in March to a depth of 5 mm. The earth is carefully moistened and covered with a film. The pots should be kept at a temperature of + 21 ... + 23 ° C. Seedlings 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 outdoors.
Large bushes of perennials should be divided every 3-4 years, since decorativeness is lost in neglected plantings and develops fungal diseases... To do this, in October or March, the bush is completely dug out, freed from part of the land and cut into several parts. Sometimes they practice cutting off part of the bush without digging it up. The delenka is immediately planted in a new place in fertile soil and watered carefully.
Planting and leaving
Evening primrose is planted in open, well-lit areas. It can grow in partial shade, but with a lack of lighting, it does not bloom and discards 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.
It is necessary to water the evening primrose with care so that the topsoil has time to dry out, since 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 additional feeding is not needed in the first year. The next spring, as well as after flowering, the plants are fed with compost, solution wood ash or potassium sulfate.
It is necessary to weed and loosen the soil several times per season. This can eliminate weeds and prevent crust formation on the ground. Tall plants need a garter, as they can lie from strong wind and rain. It is not necessary to cut off withered inflorescences; this will not result in re-flowering. However, this procedure will help prevent uncontrolled self seeding.
Most species are frost resistant and can hibernate without shelter. In the fall, aboveground 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 suffers from fungal diseases. All damaged processes must be cut off and destroyed. If aphids have settled on the bush, they are sprayed with an insecticide.
Evening primrose use
Abundantly flowering evening primrose bushes are good in group plantings and landscape compositions when creating bright blooming multi-colored spots on the lawn. Low-growing varieties are used in the design of rock gardens and rockeries. Medium-sized plants can be used in mixborders and the outer ring of the flower garden. To set off the evening primrose, it is planted next to bells, veronica, astilbe, ageratum and lobelia.
In some countries, evening primrose is used in cooking. Thickened rhizomes of annuals are boiled and eaten as a side dish. Young thin perennial shoots 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 oil content, improves tone and smoothes fine wrinkles. Tinctures and decoctions from the leaves are used internally. They relieve asthma attacks, cough with whooping cough, and also have a fixing and diuretic effect.
Enotera stemless -Oenothera acaulisEnotera stemless is absent in the flora of Russia, its homeland is Chile, but this herbaceous perennial with a taproot grows well in our country.
Very rare ornamental plantsrevealing their flowers at dusk. Lanceolate entire leaves on short petioles of this evening primrose are collected in a rosette from which a flower emerges. The ovary is located almost at the level of the soil, and a thin tube rises above it up to 10-15 cm long, ending in a funnel-wheel-shaped light yellow corolla up to 7 cm in diameter. Such a form ( Oenothera acaulis var. aurea) plants are known only in culture. The stemless evening primrose, which is found in nature, is widely described as having 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, for about 2-2.5 months, after sunset, usually one flower appears above each rosette. It opens up literally before our eyes, in just half a minute. However, about 20 plants are placed on a square meter and their simultaneously opened flowers look like a garland of lanterns thrown on the ground.
At first, after the bud has opened, 8 stamens with mature pollen rise above the corolla. The stigma blades are closed at this time. After about two hours, the 4 lobes of the stigma diverge crosswise. Pollen is carried by small nocturnal insects. After being visited by insects, the corolla slowly begins to tilt, while additional 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 wilted flower.
Each flower lives only one night, and the next it is replaced by another. Then, at the base of the rosette, very hard fruit-boxes ripen. They open at the end of September. The seeds are scattered by ants at a distance of several meters from the mother plant and germinate in spring.
Enotera stemless - unpretentious plant... She feels good in the open sun and in partial shade, on relatively loose soils. Drought and winter hardy. Seeds sprout during winter sowing or after stratification. Young plants from seeds bloom in the second year. Easy to transplant.
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 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 of EDSR.
Real 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, thanks to which it is popular with landscape designers. In order for the beauty of the night violet to unfold to its fullest, it is important to figure out how to grow and care for it.
Botanical description
Common evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) is a perennial plant of the Cyprus family. AT wildlife it can be found in forests among bushes, in clearings, 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 that are illuminated by lanterns. This solution transforms the territory and fills it with bright colors.
Evening primrose is also suitable for decorating terraces and borders, used for cutting. In bouquets, it is in harmony with ornamental grasses, ferns. At home, evening primrose can be grown in pots on balconies, having previously created 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 is resistant to pests and diseases.
Enotera, and among the common people - the night violet, a flower of amazing beauty, blooming only after sunset. In just a few minutes, from a blue-green evening primrose bush, it turns into a bright lemon candle. About the conditions in which you can grow this flower in your garden, what should be the care, how evening evening primrose lives in open ground and what varieties to choose, and further discussion will go.
Evening primrose description: varieties and varieties
There are about 20 species in culture perennial evening primrose... The height of this plant, depending on the species, ranges from 30 to 200 cm. Evening primrose flowers are large, poppy-like, most often yellow color, but also pink and white, have a magical scent.
Fragrant evening primrose will brighten your evening garden when other flowers are closing 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 life span of evening primrose flower is very short - one night. And the next night will bloom already new flower... In addition to its beauty, perennial evening primrose is famous for its medicinal properties. AT folk medicine decoctions from the roots are widely used for washing wounds, bruises, and decoctions of 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. The prepared seeds can be planted at the very beginning of spring for seedlings in pots and boxes, or after the frost leaves, directly into the ground. However, in this case, flowering will come only next year. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm.
The place for evening primrose can be allocated both sunny and shaded. An important factor there must be good drainage of the soil for site selection. Evening primrose is much easier to tolerate a slight drought, stagnant water.
Wherever you choose to plant evening primrose, ensure the plant has good drainage
Evening primrose is undemanding to 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 plants will feel comfortable. After planting, you need to slightly moisten the soil with a watering can.
Council. When planting seedlings, it is necessary to deepen it as deeply as it has been planted in pots.
Plant care
No special care evening primrose does not require. Fertilize the soil before planting, and so that young plants do not wither, remove weeds in a timely manner. Evening primrose tolerates 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. It is advised to shelter evening primrose for the winter in cold regions, as well as where winters are most often with little snow, but frosty.
If the winter in your region is rather warm, the culture can be left untouched
Council. Evening primrose is so easy to transplant that, if necessary, it can be done even during the flowering period.
Fertilizing and feeding evening primrose
In order for evening primrose to grow quickly and bloom magnificently, 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 apply fertilizers for flowering plants or fertilize with calcium sulfate.
Before the beginning of flowering culture, feed it with mineral fertilizers
Attention. After you apply the fertilizer, the plant needs abundant watering.
Plant propagation
Evening primrose is propagated most often by seeds, but after several years of growing in one place, the evening primrose root must be divided. To do this, you need to dig out a bush and divide the rhizome into several parts, which are then planted separately from each other. In addition, evening primrose can be propagated by young stepchildren, which in a large number appear around the mother bush.
Evening primrose seeds
Diseases and pests
Enotera is perennial, planting and caring for which does not cause any trouble, also pleases with its resistance to various diseases and damage by pests. You are unlikely to encounter them even with minimal maintenance of your flowers.
Perennial evening primrose: 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 quickly enough. This can cause inconvenience to some neighbors in the garden if they are planted at an insufficient distance. Experienced gardeners it is recommended to limit the freedom of evening primrose by digging slate or metal plates around the 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 delphinium are perfect for neighbors. Low varieties are most often planted in a composition with and ageratum. If you plant an evening primrose along the paths and illuminate with several lanterns or spotlights, then you will get an unforgettable beauty of a luminous path of flowers. Choose best combination for his landscape design numerous photos will help you. Don't be afraid to experiment.
Evening primrose 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 sowing in open ground, undemanding soil and absolute unpretentiousness of this truly delightful night flower will not leave anyone indifferent.
Evening primrose bloom: video
Enotera: photos
