Perennial
Mexican Evening Primrose
Oenothera speciosa
Big silky blooms on a tough spreading plant. Give it room — it wanders, in a good way.
- Pollinator
- Native
- Groundcover
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–8
- Water
- Very low once established
- Sun
- Full sun
- Size
- 10–18 in. tall × 18–36 in. wide
- Bloom & interest
- Silky pink or white cups, late spring into summer
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Native range
- Native to the southern and central Great Plains and Texas, into Mexico
Why we recommend it
Few plants cover dry, hot ground as fast or bloom as generously on so little water. Give it space where its spreading habit is an asset.
Best regions: TexasSouthwestFront Range
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water weekly until it spreads; after that it survives on rainfall and goes semi-dormant in drought.
Pruning
Mow or shear after the main bloom to tidy; no other pruning needed.
Soil
Any well-drained soil, including poor and rocky. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes in rich or irrigated beds — keep it away from delicate neighbors.
Pairs well with
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Where to buy
Shop Mexican Evening Primrose from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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