Shimmer Evening Primrose

Shimmer evening primrose is a compact mound of narrow, grassy silver foliage dotted with lemon-yellow flowers. The blooms open in the evening and flower profusely from late spring, reblooming through summer and fall, while their light fragrance and nectar draw pollinators. ## Flowers and foliage Plant Select identifies Shimmer as Oenothera fremontii 'Shimmer', selected by horticulturists Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden. Its profile gives a mature size of 8–10 inches tall by 16–18 inches wide, with yellow flowers from May to frost. The narrow silver foliage provides a cool-toned ground layer beneath the bright flowers. ## Siting and water Choose a sunny or partly sunny site. Shimmer grows in clay, loam, sandy or gravelly soils and is drought tolerant after establishment. Water during establishment, then keep irrigation restrained; its roots do not need supplemental water once established. Use it along the front of a perennial border, in a container, or in a dry garden where its low mound can spread without crowding taller plants. The Plant Select profile lists USDA zones 4–8. ## Maintenance Pinch early in the season if a fuller plant is desired, then cut back at the end of the growing season. [Plant Select's Shimmer plant profile](https://plantselect.org/plant/oenothera-fremontii-shimmer-pp19-663/) provides plant size, hardiness, site and care details. Its [selection story](https://plantselect.org/plantstories/oenothera-fremontii-shimmer-a-cheery-nativar-evening-primrose/) describes the selection, flower display, fragrance, pollinators and water needs.