LAVENDERLEAF SUNDROPS

Calylophus lavandulifolius

Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae)

This close relative of the evening primroses keeps its striking, golden flowers open all day long, rather than opening them in the evening. It is a low, somewhat bushy plant with slender, dark green leaves and flowers that are quite large relative to the size of the plant. A summer-flowering species, this plant will reward an occasional watering with a nonstop floral display from midsummer well into fall. The large, satiny buds that are striped yellow and red are another attractive feature. Lavenderleaf sundrops attracts a host of interesting native insect pollinators including butterflies and many native bees. It is widely distributed in the southern part of the Intermountain region as well as in the southern Great Plains. It combines well with later-flowering penstemons like Bridges and Rocky Mountain penstemon as well as with other low-growing plants like James buckwheat.