Mexican Evening Primrose and Osteospermum
Originally uploaded by gardenwiseguy
I was poring through my photo library and this sweet image popped up. Two very simple, easy to grow plants coexisting side by side made such a lovely combination that I had to snap this shot. The pink Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera berlandieri) can become pretty invasive in a well-watered garden, but can be a great slope holder in the right circumstances. It's purple partner (Osteospermum fruticosum - African Daisy) is another tough guy, but you wouldn't know it from the flowers.
I'm going to revisit this planting to see how Darwinism applies - who will prevail? I'd love to see the Primose scampering through the Daisy, a tangle of the two colors playing off each other.
If you look closely, the margins of the Primrose petals deepen to a richer pink that makes a nice transition to the purple beyond.
Nothing profound here. Please move along. Thank you.
13 comments:
When is your Osteospermum in bloom? I bought mine at Home Depot and it promptly went out of bloom and aborted all flower buds it had. I read somewhere that it needs cold nights to bloom. is this true?
Around here in these here parts (that's how we talk out West) Osteospermum blooms in winter and early spring. It doesn't require cold temperatures, 'cause this is Santa Barbara and it doesn't really get cold. More than likely, yours stopped blooming because places like Home Depot contract with specialty growers to push the blooms for mass sale, then you buy it, take it home and it's too pooped to pop. You'll know after a year what its "normal" cycle is. Where are you writing from?
I pretty much avoid places like HD like the plague.
These grow wild in Texas too... great plants, but they've stopped blooming for the year here. The wild ones vary from pure white to pure pastel pink... the pinker they are, the smaller the bloom. Don't know why...
I have osteo's, too...the colors are amazing!
Nice to see our little Osteospermum is a well healed traveller! Its very hardy when its growing in its natural habitat. It doesn't need cold to flower - so you're probably right Billy. But it does get a bit leggy and woody after a while though and needs to be cut back.
I have the same Osteospermum you have and the seeds came from a friends in Fallbrook Ca. They were beautiful in the spring and although still green mounds, the blooms are sporadic. Come the fall when temperatures moderate they will bloom again. The pink primrose combination is very pretty but it is so invasive. That's what my friend in ca said about the Os.
Jenny
This is a beautiful combination. Can't wait to see the results of your Darwinism experiment! :)
That's just how Saskatchewan farmers talk - I love evening primroses but can't them to grow here. I like the combination with the osteospermum. I think it's that time of year when the mind drifts off and not-so-profound thoughts take over.
I used to have Mexican Evening Primrose and at the time wished I didn't. I was living in a house with a very small back yard, and it would just take over the whole yard. Since I now have a big property, I've tried growing it here as I want it to cover very large areas, but I can't get it to grow at all. Seems like that's the way all things are!
Aiyana
I used to grow Mexican primrose, too, but my garden is just a little too hospitable to keep its growth in check. Osteos are fabulous little plants. I love all their out of this world colors.
Love the color and textures in the photo--the seed heads are great, too!
~ Monica
I know but the price was right so I got mine from home depot wanted this easy plant for years but finally got a pot of it,The horses cut it down when it was in full bloom but they did not eat all the buds desert plants tuck them low to,it came back and it's doing great it's planted on a slope that is impossible to water and made mostly out of sand funny thing that I was also hoping to ad evening prime rose to the slope but I really want blue/purple or white rather than pink can find seeds.I prefer to grow from seed unless it's petunia or impatience!
Love your photo
Gosh what i wanted to say is the key to bloom is sand and sun with these flowers (just like me)and water if thirsty.
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