A hardy biennial, the large yellow flowers of evening primrose open in the evenings to attract moths for pollination. Native to North America it is used both as a culinary and medicinal herb. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Edible leaves, roots and flowers
- Attracts moths
- Fatty acids in seeds
- Self-seeding
The extracted oil from evening primrose is used for helping with skin conditions and menopause and can be bought in capsule form. The soft sweet flowers of this elegant plants are produced in the second year and the seeds harvested from their pods in late summer.
Plant Care
- Height: 60-100cm
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun
- Soil: Any/alkaline
- Flower colour: Yellow
- Flowering period: June - August
Evening primrose is a biennial herb, producing a mound of bright green leaves in the first year and then tall stems adorned with large fragrant flowers in the second year. It loves a sunny site and likes a well-drained soil; it doesn’t cope well over winter in cold wet clay soils which tends to rot the roots. It can be grown in a pot but can become stunted and roots bound and produce few flowers in the second year. The seed heads can be collected and dried for sowing in the autumn or spring or it can be left to self-seed naturally.
Usage
The beautiful evening primrose is a traditional Native American food and medicine. A herbal infusion can be made from the fresh leaves for wound healing and the flowers added to salads. The root can be roasted and eaten as a root vegetable.
A rich oil, high in fatty acids is made from the seeds and used for a wide range of conditions of the skin and as a hormonal balancing supplement.