Native & adapted
Tufted evening primrose
Oenothera caespitosaAlso known as White evening primrose · Desert evening primrose
A low native rosette with large white evening flowers that fade pink, bringing fragrance and moth activity to dry gardens.
Right plant, right place
Will Tufted evening primrose grow at your Arizona property?
Place where evening flowers can be enjoyed and where the low rosette will not be buried by aggressive neighbors. Drainage is essential during summer heat.
Best regional fit: Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.
Light
Sun exposure
Full sun at elevation; morning sun or light afternoon shade in the hottest low-desert sites.
Water
Irrigation
Low. Water deeply and sparingly after establishment, increasing only enough to support active growth.
Planting & stewardship
How to help Tufted evening primrose thrive
- 1
Plant into gravelly, well-drained soil with the crown at grade.
- 2
Avoid frequent summer irrigation when the plant slows or goes dormant.
- 3
Leave selected seed capsules to support natural renewal.
- 4
Mark dormant plants so the crown is not disturbed during seasonal cleanup.