Grow Evening Primrose
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is an American native biennial plant. For some, it is considered to be a weed because it self-seeds rapidly and establishes itself easily. However, provided it's kept under control, evening primrose has delightful fragrant flowers that open at dusk (to attract the moths) and it is a plant with a number of important medical uses.
Steps
- Be sure that it is legal or appropriate to plant evening primrose where you are. Consider your local environment and biodiversity before adding a plant that sprawls with great ease.
- Purchase or obtain evening primrose seed.
- Sow the seed in late spring. Choose soil that is well-drained and in a sunny position. The type of soil isn't really an issue provided it drains well. Evening primrose will grow in cool, warm, hot, arid, places; it's not too fussy.
- Thin the seedlings to 30cm/12".
- Water until established. Do not over-water.
- Let it grow. Evening primrose "thrives on neglect" so it's fairly hard to lose it for lack of nurture. The real problem is keeping it under control because it self-seeds so readily. Be prepared to clean up any spread regularly.
- Snap off the flower stems after the blooms fade and discard of them. Doing this will prevent the seeds from ripening and spreading.
Tips
- Every part of the plant is considered to be edible; the roots are nutty and can be boiled and eaten like a vegetable; the leaves can be added to salads as greens; the seeds can be dried out and chewed.
Things You'll Need
- Evening primrose seeds
- Growing area
- Pruning shears to remove flower heads before seeds ripen
Related Articles
- Grow Basil
- Grow Bergamot
- Grow Tarragon
- Grow Lovage
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Sources and Citations
- Murdoch Books, Growing Herbs, p. 227, (2006), ISBN 978-1-74045-870-2 – research source
- Caroline Foley, Jill Nice, and Marcus A Webb, New Herb Bible, p. 84, (2001), ISBN 1-875169-92-X – research source
- James Wong, Grow your own drugs, p. 162, (2009), ISBN 978-1-60652-119-9
