How rare is the Vega sphinx?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

October 23, 2002

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Primrose, Helleborus, Hosta, Dutch Treat Collection, & more—>Click here.

There are an estimated eighty species of Oenothera; all are native to the New World. A few bloom during the day and are known as suncups or sundrops; the majority bloom during the night, the evening primroses. The evening primroses are pollinated by sphinx or
advertisement

Blushing Rosie Evening Primrose Produces loads of deep rose-pink flowers with yellow stamens for many weeks throughout the summer. Foliage turns from gray-green to scarlet to burgundy as cold weather approaches.

This tough Blushing Rosie Evening Primrose ground cover grows 12-18" tall and is as welcome in containers as it is in borders and along walkways. Space 12-18" apart. Shipped in our Pro² Six Paks. Deer tend to avoid.

Oenothera 'Blushing Rosie' Zone 5 to 9 This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

hawk moths (Family: Sphingidae).

The Vega sphinx moth (Proserpinus vega Dyar) [pro serp' i nus va' gah] is small compared to most sphinx moths. The wingspan is about 6 to 6.5 centimeters (2.25 to 2.75 inches). Vega moths are an endemic species to the desert southwest with the range possibly extending into western Texas and northern Mexico.

Little is known of the Vega sphinx moth's life cycle. It appears that Oenothera species play host to the black and white banded caterpillar. The adults may feed at any night-bloomer, but Oenothera flowers are designed for sphinx moths. The flowers are highly visible in the dark and most are fragrant.

Named in 1903 by H.G. Dyar, the Vega has received a ranking of G2, very rare (Nature Conservancy Global Ranking). In almost one hundred years, the Vega sphinx has been found fewer than 21 times.

The New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council has posted photographs of the Organ Mountain evening primrose (Oenothera organensis), a rare species endemic to southern New Mexico. To view the photographs, click on the link:

Click here to view the photographs

The Bristlecone Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has posted a photograph of the tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) taken by Stephen Ingram. To view his photograph, click on the link:

Click here to view the photograph

Butterflies and Moths of North America has photographs of the Vega sphinx moth and caterpillar. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3461

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Mixed Hardy Primrose

Spring Hill Nursery®

Special variety provides a captivating show of color from early spring through early summer. Mounds of deep green foliage come alive with masses of flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow or white. 8-12" tall, 10-12" spread. Mixed Hardy Primrose is exceptionally hardy and carefree. Multiply rapidly.

Shipped in 3" pot. Deer tend to avoid.

Primula x polyanthus 'Elite hybrids' Zone 3 to 8

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Perennials] [Unique Gardens]

Unique Characteristics: The large prolific clusters of blooms. One of the most colorful perennials for shady sites.

Missouri Primrose

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Sized, Shaped Like a Teacup

Canary-yellow flowers beautify borders early summer to frost. Grows 9-12 inches tall with red-tinted foliage. Full sun, moist soil.

Bareroot.

Zones: 3 - 8 (-30° F.) This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Click here to view more Perennials & Roses For Sale - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Royal Helleborus Mix

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Unusual Color Range!

Provides up to 4 months of bloom from late winter to spring in a luscious mix of green, red, pink, purple, near black, yellow and white. Pest free, easy to grow. Potted Plants.

Zones: 4 - 9 (-20° F.)

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Click here to view more Perennials & Roses For Sale - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Comments: A Hybrid Mix of unnamed varieties. Unusual color range. Move over hosta, astilbes, and bleeding hearts - this hybrid helleborus mix deserves a place in any shade garden.

This plant typifies the characteristics that plant breeders and flower gardeners desire. Low maintenance, disease and pest free, very long lived plant, and up to four months of bloom, in a luscious array of colors, including white, pink, green, red, purple, near black, and yellow. Tolerates a wider range of soil conditions including clay soils, and performs in heat and humidity unlike the species. Mulch to prevent frost heave the first winter. Incorporation of organic matter and Advanced Formula Plant Food will enhance establishment and blooming.

Shady Places Hosta Mix

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Easy-Grow Color!

Showy shade lovers spread to fill an area fast with broad, beautiful leaves. Perfect for dressing up north-facing foundations. Bell-like flowers shoot up and bloom summer to frost. Our choice of varieties.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

This Item Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Click here to view more Perennials & Roses For Sale - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!

Comments: Showy shade lovers spread to fill an area fast with broad, beautiful leaves. Perfect for dressing up north-facing foundations. Bell-like flowers shoot up and bloom summer to frost. Our choice of varieties. Row Run.

Spring Rain Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

Shower your landscape with this refreshing blend of tall Dutch tulips and diminutive blue grape hyacinths. Perfect for filling beds, borders and other large areas with bold, vibrant colour. Includes 25 mixed tulips, all with strong 20-28" stems, and 25 blue grape hyacinths - dainty, grapelike clusters of deep cobalt blue on 6" stems.

Top-quality bulbs increase in number annually, producing an incredible display that is also ideal for cutting. Tulips: 11-12 cm bulbs; Hyacinths: 8-9 cm bulbs.

Height:6-28” Blooms: Mid Spring

This Item Ships In The Fall Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs [Spring Blooming Collections] [New at Breck's]

Brecks Dutch Treat Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

The ideal starter collection for your garden - or a friend's. Eight outstanding varieties of fresh, prime-quality Dutch bulbs rushed across the Atlantic to America and fully guaranteed to grow and bloom.

This spectacular 100-bulb assortment demonstrates to beginners, as well as to expert gardeners, how lovely your surroundings can be with a multitude of bright flowers from the fields of Holland. Exciting blooms start peeking through in early spring and keep coming until summer is in sight.

Shipped in a distinctive gift box with complete planting instructions.

In this collection you will receive:

10 King Edward Tulips
8 Daffodils for Naturalizing
20 Alpine Rosy Bells
12 Beauty Dutch Iris Mixture
Blue Grape Hyacinths
Early Stardrift
Economy Tulip Mix
Mixed Giant Crocus

One collection equals 100 bulbs!

This Item Ships In The Fall Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs [Spring Blooming Collections] [New at Breck's]