A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 oenothera missouriensis

My primrose is growing like crazy. I have four plants taking over an area. What pruning tips does anyone have to offer? I live in Manitoba and therefore have to be careful of extreme weather conditions. I want the plants to survive the winter (The plants are three years old and have bloomed for the past two years.) I'd appreciate any words of advice.

thanks

crashfire

Hello Crashfire,
Welcome to The Garden Helper's Forum!
We are very glad you found us!!!

I love the plant you have....
I hate to say it, but it sounds like it's doing exactly what it's meant to do, GROW LIKE CRAZY!!!
It's a spreader or creeper, or good taller ground cover like..They are quite profuse!

The pink one's are gorgeous too!!!
Mexican Evening Primrose

But if you'd like to control it a bit,
you can either cut the flower's off right after flowering, to reduce the seeds spreading!
Also, don't give it great soil or sun,
that'll slow it down, won't hurt in any,
just not as wide spreading...
And pull it out in places and put it in other places in your garden, or a hill side
*it's great there*
Or start giving it away to friends,
or garden clubs or senior homes, etc....
it'll keep growing quite nicely for you.

And the color is like a sea of yellow!!!
I was a little reserved to get it when first offered to me, because I know it can be quite "busy" (*meaning grows alot*)
but it's been a very nice plant for me.


Hope this has helped!
Happy Gardening!
And please keep us posted

Weezie

P.S. We have quite a few gardener's here from Canada!

Interesting, Weezie...

While helping my cousin in Conn. weed out her one year old gardens - she didn't want to do it herself because she didn't know which were weeds or plants! - I took several starts of Mexican Evening Primrose. Her husband HATES this type of plant - calls them weeds, because they are unruly - just like they are supposed to be! :rolleyes:

Anyway, she didn't remember what pink flowers she had the landscaper plant the previous year, so I did an online search, and sure enough that's what they are. My starts took a few weeks, but now I have nice green, healthy mounds growing. I wonder if I might get any blooms on them this summer, or is it too late? They are such a nice, delicate light pink color.