_edited.jpg)
Meadow sundrops, Oenothera pilosella
A short evening primrose with showy flowers for the front of a border. Meadow sundrops grow to only 30 to 60 cm in height. Their large, cheery yellow flowers bloom in June and July and open during the day, not in the evening. This perennial plant is easy to grow and can spread quickly, filling in empty spaces. Its shallow root system makes it easy to keep at bay.
Ecology:
Meadow sundrops attract many pollinators, including Toronto's official bee, the metallic green sweat bee. Birds, such as dark-eyed juncos, love the seeds. Meadow sundrops are the host plant for the beautiful pink primrose moth and many other moth species. It also provides pollen to pollen specialist bees.
Growing conditions:
In the wild, sundrops occur in prairies, old fields, wet uplands, wet grassy areas, and along roads and railroads. In the garden, sundrops prefer medium to wet clay soil and full sun. However, they can grow in any soil type, including poor soils, part shade, and some drought.
Meadow Sundrops
30 - 60 cm great pollinator early summer sun to part shade host plant rain garden any soil type pollen specialist easy to grow medium-dry to wet bird seed boulevard .
Garden symphony:
Sundrops complement Canada anemone, swamp milkweed, scarlet bee balm, Ohio spiderwort, pearly everlasting, bottled gentian, great blue lobelia, cardinal flower, blue vervain, culver's root and Virginia mountain mint.