Twilight Evening Primrose

Pink Blooms, Purple-Bronze Foliage

The captivating Twilight Evening Primrose PP#17230 (Oenothera speciosa 'TURNER01') is an enchanting perennial that combines color, fragrance, and evening charm. Its crinkled, pale pink flowers unfold in early evening like tiny silk lanterns, each with a sunny yellow-green center. But it’s not just the flowers that catch your eye!

The young foliage showcases a rich, almost metallic purple-bronze hue right in the heart of each leaf, giving this groundcover some serious visual intrigue! The crinkled petals add texture, while the purplish leaf centers add an unexpected dash of drama to the landscape.

Growing low and spreading with ease, this herbaceous perennial forms a dense mat of lush foliage, dotted with large, cup-shaped blossoms from early summer through late fall. Its open, fan-like flowers are lightly fragrant, fluttering open as dusk settles in.

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Key Features

• Pale pink, fan-shaped flowers with crinkled petals
• Fragrant blooms open in the early evening
• Striking purple-bronze coloring on young foliage
• Blooms from early summer to late fall
• Excellent cold-hardiness (Zones 5-8)
• Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant
• Spreads easily as a groundcover

Landscaping Uses

Twilight Evening Primrose grows low and spreads out in a softly mounding form, reaching 18-24 inches tall and spreading 12-18 inches wide. It's perfect for softening the edges of beds, walkways, and containers.

Evening Primrose is cherished for their medicinal properties and cultural use as a calming herb. This cultivar elevates the whole family with its uniquely colored foliage and impressive bloom span.

• Use as a flowering groundcover for sunny slopes or borders
• Add to a Moon Garden for its evening bloom habit and pale color palette
• Edge your cottage garden with softly crinkled, romantic blooms
• Soften the front of rock gardens or dry, sunny areas
• Plant along sidewalks or hell strips where other plants may fail

Care and Maintenance

Twilight Evening Primrose is an herbaceous perennial, meaning it dies back in fall and reemerges bigger and better each spring. It's beloved for its rugged resilience and easygoing nature.

Native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, this species thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8, Twilight Evening Primrose is tough as nails, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant once established, and perfect for xeric gardens.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall is ideal
• Sun Needs: Full sun (6+ hours of direct sun)
• Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soils; tolerates poor, sandy, or rocky soils; avoid overly wet sites
• Moisture Needs: Low water needs once established; water regularly the first year using the Finger Test
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
• Fertilization Needs: Not usually needed in fertile soil; compost can be added in early spring
• Pruning Info: Can be cut back hard mid-season to encourage tidier regrowth and reblooming
• Special Needs/Perks:
• Very drought-tolerant
• Deer-resistant
• Handles urban pollution
• Tolerates clay and alkaline soils
• Heat and humidity tolerant
• Division Info: Divide clumps every 2–3 years in early spring or fall to maintain vigor

Evening Enchantment Awaits!

Bring some twilight magic to your garden with the charming, fragrant, and oh-so-colorful Twilight Evening Primrose. With purple-bronze foliage, romantic pink blooms, and rugged garden performance, this plant pulls double duty as both a beauty and a workhorse. Order now at Nature Hills Nursery and we'll deliver right to your doorstep at the ideal time for planting in your zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Twilight Evening Primrose invasive?
While not invasive, it spreads quickly and may naturalize in open spaces. Contain it with edging or by trimming runners.

Does Twilight Evening Primrose rebloom if pruned?
Yes! A hard midsummer trim often encourages a second wave of blooms through fall.

Can I grow Twilight Evening Primrose in a container?
Absolutely! It’s a lovely spiller in containers and will cascade over the edge with pink blooms and striking foliage.

What pollinators are attracted to this plant?
Evening Primroses attract night-flying moths and beneficial native bees.

How do I keep it from flopping or getting leggy?
Trim back by half in midseason to rejuvenate the foliage and encourage bushier growth.

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