Species sundrops
yellow flowers with yellow stamens, peach buds, lime leaves and red-green stems

sundrops

Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca

Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca) are small to medium-sized native shrubs that emit a bright yellow light in the evening. They grow to a height of about 2.5 meters at maturity and have a clumping form, making them ideal for adding groundcover to any landscape. Their thin, light-green leaves turn to a deep bronze color in winter before fading to a pale gold color in spring. In the summer months, they are adorned with delicate yellow flowers that fill the air with their subtle fragrance. These hardy perennials do well in full to partial sun and are perfect for adding a splash of color to any garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

silver,green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Sundrops tend to do best with moderate and consistent watering and should not be overwatered. Water the plants when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Aim to water your sundrops once a week in the summer and every other week in the winter, in order to keep the soil evenly moist. If the plants are in containers, water more often to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. Make sure to avoid drying out the soil as much as possible as sundrops are very intolerant of drought and dry soil conditions. If the soil is dry for prolonged periods of time, the leaves may drop off and the plant may die.

sunlight

Sundrops, also known as Oenothera fruticosa subsp. glauca, prefer plenty of sunlight for best growth. When in bloom, sundrops should receive full sun for at least 6 hours each day. During the summer months, they should receive full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. In the winter months, they should receive full sun in the early mornings or late afternoons. Additionally, the plants can handle some filtered light during midday. When growing in a container, the sundrops should be rotated periodically to get even sunlight exposure.

pruning

In general, sundrops need minimal pruning; a light pruning as needed in late winter to mid-spring is all that is necessary. Pruning should be done by removing only the dead, diseased, or damaged stems and all flower stalks that have withered away. Any vigorous shoots should also be removed. It is important to prune before the growing season since the flower buds form on new wood. Do not prune back into old wood as this could result in fewer flowers for your sundrops. Finally, it is important to use clean, sharp pruning shears to avoid unnecessary damage to the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Sundrops typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Sundrops typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map