This month we're shining a spotlight on Missouri Evening Primrose — also known as Ozark Sundrops, bigseed evening primrose, and the Missouri Evening Primrose. A Plains native, it blooms all summer long, opening its unusually large flowers in the evening and holding them only until the next afternoon, when they wilt away to make room for the next night's show.

What makes it truly special is its broad foliage. Most xeric plants lean on small, finely textured leaves — in design terms, "fine" foliage — and Missouri Evening Primrose offers a welcome contrast, its bold leaves anchoring the eye while its oversized flowers bring a burst of color rarely seen in the Western garden.

In keeping with our definition of "low-maintenance," this plant asks for exactly one thing from human hands each year: cut it back to the ground each spring, before new growth starts. And resist any urge to deadhead — the faded blooms give way to decorative orange seedheads that are just as much a part of the show, their warm, weathered color playing beautifully against the plant's fresh yellow flowers still opening alongside them.

Beyond that, it's remarkably self-sufficient — low water, moderately deer resistant, and generous with its blooms all season long.

A close up of the dusky orange hues of the Evening Primrose seedhead..