Silver Blade® Evening Primrose

Silver Blade® evening primrose is a compact selection with silvery foliage and bright yellow flowers. [Plant Select](https://plantselect.org/plant/oenothera-macrocarpa-subsp-incana/) reports a mature height of 4–8 inches, a spread of 16–24 inches, and USDA hardiness zones 4a–9. Its flowers appear from May until frost, above the distinctive pale foliage. ## Form and flowering The plant forms a low mound suited to the front of a sunny bed, a rock garden, or a dry garden. Its silver foliage and yellow flowers provide contrast with green-leaved perennials and grasses. The broad flowering season can extend from late spring into fall where conditions allow. ## Where to grow Plant Select recommends full sun and moderate-to-xeric conditions. Provide good drainage and avoid a persistently wet site. The selection is described as drought tolerant, deer resistant, and useful for pollinators; establish it with appropriate watering before relying on its dry-site tolerance. ## Maintenance Give the spreading crown enough room to reach its mature width. Remove spent or damaged growth when needed to keep the plant tidy, and reduce old growth during seasonal cleanup. Plant Select records the selection as introduced in 1999 by James Locklear and promoted through Bluebird Nursery. [Plant Select plant profile](https://plantselect.org/plant/oenothera-macrocarpa-subsp-incana/)