HERB-EVENING PRIMROSE
HERB-EVENING PRIMROSE
A$3.50
Availability: 59 in stock
Oenothera biennis
HERB-EVENING PRIMROSE provides a splash of colour in the garden, the sweetly scented, yellow flowers open towards evening. Officially introduced in 1614 into Europe, this herb was called the ‘King’s cure-all’ by herbalists, it was considered a panacea for treating most ailments. Today, many modern herbalists use an extract in cough remedies and the seeds are used to produce evening primrose oil. The whole plant is edible, the leaves can be cooked, & the nutty-flavoured roots can be boiled & eaten like potatoes & the flowers make a lovely salad garnish. A biennial to 1.5 metres tall. The oil is said to ease skin conditions such as acne, rheumatoid arthritis, weak bones, high cholesterol & many others.
Sow in spring or in autumn. Press seeds in lightly, do not cover the seeds with soil as they need light to germinate. Make sure the soil is kept moist but not wet. Seeds germinate in 15 to 30 days at 18 to 21°C. Once the seedlings have developed 2 pairs of true leaves, thin out the weakest seedlings. Space seedlings or thin plants to 45cm apart.
| Germination Time (Days) | 21 – 28 |
| Sowing Depth (mm) | 1 |
| Plant Spacing (cm) | 30 |
| pH | 6.5 – 7 |
| Soil Temperature (°C) | – |
| Hardy / Frost Tender | Hardy |
| Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings | Raise Seedlings |
| Seed Preparation | – |
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
90 - 150 cm (3 - 5 feet)
Season of Interest
Spring to Autumn
Temperature Range
15 - 25 °C
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Biennial
Frost Hardy / Tender
Frost Hardy
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Sow direct
Soil
Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil
pH
5.5 - 7.0
Soil Temperature
16 - 21 °C (60 - 70 °F)
Seed Preparation
Cold stratify seeds for 4 weeks
Sowing Depth
45 cm (18 inches)
Plant Spacing
45 cm (18 inches)
Row spacing
60 cm (24 inches)
Watering
Light to moderate
Germination Time (Days)
10 - 30 days
Harvest Time (Days)
90 - 120 days
Good Companion Plants
Echinacea, Lavender, Rosemary
Bad Companion Plants
None specific
Pests
Aphids, Caterpillars
Diseases
Root rot, Powdery mildew
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
