Pinkladies

Photo taken at 9:27am.

As the common name (Showy Evening Primrose) implies, most evening primrose species open their flowers in the evening, closing them again early each morning. The flowers of some members of the genus open in the evening so rapidly that the movement can almost be observed. Pink evening primrose populations in the southern part of its natural range, however, open their flowers in the morning and close them each evening. To further complicate matters, populations in the northern parts of its range tend to open in the evening. The plant is frequently grown in gardens and escapes from cultivation. While it makes an attractive garden plant, care should be taken with it as it can become invasive, spreading by runners and seeds.