OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE)

Description

Whilst being no relation to the true primrose, this is the original "Evening Primrose" beloved by gardeners and herbalists alike. Furthermore the epithet 'biennis' is not necessarily strictly true, this plant often behaves as a perennial, producing large, floppy, gently-perfumed, primrose yellow flowers on robust stems, until the late autumn. A final contrariness: the flowers actually do open during the day!

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts