Ross Shrigley and Bev Shaw Plant Select®

‘Shimmer,’ defined as “to shine with a soft tremulous light,” perfectly encapsulates the beauty of Oenothera macrocarpa spp. fremontii ‘Shimmer.’ This remarkable plant, patented by Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden in 2009, boasts bright yellow, 2.5-inch nocturnally fragrant flowers that float gracefully among waves of soft, shimmering, silver foliage. ‘Shimmer’ seamlessly bridges the gap between traditional perennial gardens and contemporary native plantings, steering gardeners toward a more beautiful and sustainable Western garden style.

‘Shimmer’ is rarely found in wildscape garden designs but is deliberately placed in meticulously planned gardens rich with North American native plants. It embodies the sense of place that garden designers and municipality planners strive to create. This hybrid evening primrose stands out with its compact form, longevity and larger yellow flowers compared to the straight species. It’s a superb pollinator, attracting birds and butterflies while remaining unpalatable to deer and rabbits.

Plant ‘Shimmer’ en masse along pathways or in full-sun perennial gardens to provide height contrast and address rain shadow issues where irrigation is blocked. In containers, ‘Shimmer’ can be used around the rim for a spilling texture, while the center can be filled with different upright annuals each year. Native to the plains of west-central Kansas and Nebraska, ‘Shimmer’ has proven to be drought-tolerant and even xeric on Colorado’s Front Range. Its resilience makes it an excellent choice for containers that may experience inconsistent watering.

Despite being on the market for years, ‘Shimmer’ has recently become a Plant Select selection. Gardeners who have used this plant have become devoted fans, cherishing its water-wise, long-lasting characteristics. If you haven’t yet included ‘Shimmer’ in your garden designs, make next spring the time to do so. Its radiant presence will bring joy to your garden, and you’ll appreciate its beauty and reliability season after season.

Plant type: Perennial

Height: 8-10 inches

Width: 16-18 inches

Flowers: bright lemon yellow, 2.5-inch blooms, heavy flush in June, lightly until frost

Foliage: narrow, grey-green, almost silvery foliage throughout summer months, greener foliage in spring

Light: full sun to partial sun

Culture: clay, loam or sandy soils

Water Needs: dry to xeric

Hardiness: Zones 4-8

*Photo courtesy Plant Haven

Design/Maintenance Tips

● Deer- and rabbit-resistant

● Good for mass plantings and in large containers

● Completely xeric, requiring no water after a year of establishment

● Trim back to 2 inches in early spring.

● Looks natural next to rocks and boulders.

● Suggested companion plants: ‘Thin Man’ golden prairie grass, ‘Standing Ovation’ little bluestem, ‘Blazing Star Meadow’ gayfeather, ‘Eversilver’ creeping germander, red yucca, ‘Winter Fire’ sedum

*Photo courtesy Plant Haven