While no single plant perfectly embodies every fantastical depiction, a real-world flower captures the essence of a “sundrop” with its luminous appearance and unique relationship with light. This captivating plant offers a tangible connection to the allure of a flower that seems to interact directly with the sun’s fading light.
Identifying the Real-Life Sundrop Flower
The plant most fitting the description of a real-life “sundrop flower” is the Evening Primrose, particularly Oenothera biennis. Its common name hints at its distinctive behavior, setting it apart from many other flowering plants. This plant is recognized for its vibrant, sun-like yellow blossoms that appear to capture the last rays of sunlight. It earns the “sundrop” moniker by opening its flowers primarily at dusk or in the evening, appearing to bloom as the day’s light dwindles. Native to eastern and central North America, the common evening primrose has naturalized across temperate and subtropical regions globally.
Characteristics of Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose is a biennial plant, completing its life cycle over two years. In its first year, it forms a low-lying rosette of lance-shaped, light green leaves up to 8 inches long. During the second year, a stiff, upright, and often hairy stem emerges from the center, growing 2 to 6 feet tall.
The flowers are a striking feature, usually bright yellow, though some Oenothera species may display pink or white blooms. Each flower is bowl-shaped, 1 to 2 inches across, with four distinct petals. These fragrant, lemon-scented flowers unfurl rapidly at dusk and remain open through the night, closing by morning. Each bloom lasts a single night, with new ones opening each evening during its mid-summer to fall blooming period.
Growing Evening Primrose
Cultivating Evening Primrose is relatively straightforward, as the plant is adaptable. It thrives best in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, but can also tolerate partial shade. The plant prefers well-draining soil, ideally sandy or loamy, but can grow successfully even in poorer, gravelly, or rocky soils.
While established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, they benefit from regular watering during prolonged dry spells; prevent overwatering to avoid root rot. Evening Primrose primarily propagates by seed and self-sows readily, naturalizing in a garden setting. Seeds can be directly sown in autumn or early spring, requiring light for germination, so they should be sown on the soil surface or lightly dusted with soil. Deadheading spent blooms encourages more flowering and helps manage its spreading habit if it becomes too vigorous.
Uses and Benefits of Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose serves several practical purposes. Its nocturnal blooming attracts night-flying pollinators, such as moths, drawn to its mild lemon fragrance and nectar.
The plant is notable for its medicinal uses, particularly the oil extracted from its seeds, known as Evening Primrose Oil (EPO). This oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, explored for its anti-inflammatory properties. EPO is commonly used to address conditions including eczema, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, and menopausal discomfort such as hot flashes. Additionally, the roots, leaves, and flowers of the Evening Primrose are edible and have been used as a food source.