Showy Evening Primrose 'Siskiyou' (Oenothera speciosa 'Siskiyou'): Pink Clouds for Dry Sun

'Siskiyou' (also called 'Siskiyou Pink') is a selected form of showy evening primrose with clear pink, cup-shaped flowers that open during the day (unlike many evening primroses). It forms a low, spreading mat that thrives in hot, dry, sunny sites.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Onagraceae
• Genus: Oenothera
• Species: speciosa
• Cultivar: 'Siskiyou' (syn. 'Siskiyou Pink')

Growth and Bloom

Forms a spreading mat 6–12 inches tall, 2–3 feet wide. Leaves are narrow, gray-green. Flowers are 2–3 inches, pale pink with yellow centers, opening in morning and lasting all day. Blooms late spring to summer. Spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding.

Culture

Full sun. Poor, dry, well-drained soil; thrives in neglect. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9. Drought-tolerant. Can be aggressive in fertile, moist soil; best in lean conditions.

Uses

Rock garden, dry slope, meadow, border front, hellstrip. Attracts bees and butterflies.