Indoor Herb Garden Kits and Herbal Remedies

Oenothera biennis (Onagraceae)

Description
Like Cinderella, this slightly tatty daytime herb garden plant transforms into an evening beauty with drooping pale yellow flowers and a heady fragrance, thus the name evening primrose. Flowers start in early summer and give a good showing until nearly mid-autumn (Fall) Over the summer/autumn transition period, flowers will display throughout the day. Thickets of evening primrose, with their red stem bases will reach up to 1.37m (4’6″) in height.

Some types will both produce fragrance and display during the day, so check with your local nurseryman.

Although its reputation as a healing herb is justifiably gaining ground, this herb garden plant is also prized for its long flowering season and intrinsic beauty.

History
Common names include moon flower, primrose tree, moths and night willow. An indigenous plant of America, known to grow from Labrador in the North to the Southern states and as far West as Colorado.

Evening primrose is reputed to have arrived in Europe around 1625 via its seed being mixed in with the ballast soil used in the sailing ships of the 17th century.

Usage
Originally, extracts from the bark, stem and leaves from this herb garden plant were used as an astringent, for nervous disorders, as sedatives and as an aid to digestive aid. Now the essential oil is extracted and has a gained a reputation as being a natural remedy for aiding nervous disorders, including multiple sclerosis.

The fatty acids in the oil are reputed to stop the inflammatory process and aid skin cell repair in persons affected by poison ivy or poison oak.

Cultivation
Sow seed either in late Spring directly into your prepared bed for flowering the following year or sow as soon as the soil has warmed in early Spring. In the latter case, transplant the seedlings for a good chance of flowers by late season the same year. The fleshy roots like to grow deep, so provide a good depth of soil.

Once established, self seeding will ensure lots of fresh evening primrose seedlings around the garden ready for transplanting in early summer.

Evening primrose is a wonderful plant and an asset to all but the tiniest gardens.