Ozark Sundrops (Oenothera missouriensis)
ee-NOTH-er-ah mih-zoor-ee-EN-sis

Deciduous Perennial in the Onagraceae Family
A tough, drought-tolerant native wildflower with large, fragrant yellow blooms — also known under its current scientific name, Oenothera macrocarpa, with which this record shares an identical plant.
Oenothera missouriensis is an older scientific name for what botanists now classify as Oenothera macrocarpa (Missouri evening primrose, also called Ozark sundrops). The two names refer to the same native wildflower of the central and southern Great Plains, prized for its sprawling stems and oversized, fragrant yellow flowers that open in the evening. This record is kept separate from the current-name record (ID 4917) pending a merge decision; see claude/duplicate-records-list.md.

Pros

  • Extremely drought-tolerant once established
  • Thrives in poor, rocky, or alkaline soil
  • Large, fragrant yellow flowers attract pollinators
  • Low-maintenance and rarely bothered by pests or disease

Cons

  • Sprawling habit can look untidy in a formal border
  • Flowers open in the evening and fade by midday
  • Prone to crown and root rot in wet soil
  • Listed here under an older scientific name -- see record 4917 for the current name, Oenothera macrocarpa
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Dry, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Rock Garden, Medium, Perennial, Showy Flowers
Bloom Period June to August
Flower Color Yellow
 

More Info from Experts

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 06/04


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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