Evening Primrose Innocence

Hardy all the way through zone 3 in the north and 8 in the south and west, Innocence is a stunning white Evening Primrose, a nice change of pace from the more familiar pink. Its blooms range from 1 to 2½ inches wide, and as they mature they acquire the faintest appleblossom-pink tinge, so that a big planting in full blossom is a fantastic mix of soft shades. And despite what you'd think from their name, the flowers are open all day long, though the fragrance tends to be stronger in the evening. A great plant for the patio or deck -- just pop them in a big tub or windowbox and delight your guests with their moonlit color and sweet aroma!

Native to North America, this hardy perennial is very, very adaptable. Once established in your yard, it's happy to bloom in poor, sandy, and dry soils as well as good garden loam. The plant reaches anywhere from 8 to 20 inches high and spreads 8 to 12 inches wide, so you can make a big impact with even half a dozen or so plants. Evening Primrose is a joy in meadowlands and untilled soil, too, making its way down banks, eroded areas, and other hard-to-plant, harder-to-care-for garden spots!

Sow the seeds directly into the garden in late summer, fall, or spring, or begin them indoors in early spring. They germinate within 3 weeks, and the young plants should be spaced (or thinned, if direct-sown) to about 6 to 8 inches apart for a nice dense carpet of color! Zones 3-8. Pkt is 50 seeds.