Stemless Evening Primrose
by CMG Betty J
The Stemless Evening Primrose, Oenothera triloba, is a common Texas wildflower that thrives in the clay or calcareous soils of the Blackland Prairie, the Rolling Plains and the Edwards Plateau. It prefers sunny, dry open areas with well-drained soils such as the open prairie, hillsides, and rocky fields, often invading cultivated lawns. The pale yellow, (or orange), flowers open in the evening just before dark and close the next morning. They are highly deer resistant and a particularly important nectar source for native bees.
The 2” flowers of the Stemless Evening Primrose grow from the center of the leaf rosette on a floral tube that is 1 – 3” tall. They have four petals and eight stamens with large and conspicuous anthers. These winter annuals bloom from late February through June. The leaves may be as long as 12” and feature deep lobes or an irregular toothed pattern. The seed-producing portion of the plant is found among the leaf stalks at ground level. The leaves wither away as the fruit matures, leaving a seed pod that resembles a pinecone.
These flowers are a good addition to a rock garden and are propagated by root division. Fertilize them in the spring, maintain a mulch layer, and remove spent blossoms.
Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose