Evening Primrose

I remember the first time I saw Evening Primrose it was growing in an old abandoned garden. I tried to dig it, but it did not move well. I loved the way it looked. I didn't know what it was so I took a flower to my favorite nursery and ask what it was they told me it was a weed.

Could I get some for my yard? The guy at the nursery thought I was nuts. I remember him telling me that it would take over my yard. But he got me two plants and it did spread. Like many of my other herbs, it is prolific but I just cut the ones that get out of hand and put them in my compost pile. For some reason unknown to me they help break down compost at a faster rate.

One of the first things I learned about this herb was that it was a night time flower. I love night time flowers they shine in the moonlight. Evening Primrose is especially beautiful in a moonlight garden as it is phosphorescent in the moonlight. It also has another name: it is called evening star because the petals seem to glow at night. It is a perennial reaching about 4 inches in height with pale yellow flowers it is especially fragrant. It can be eaten it is a true pot herb because the whole plant can be eaten. The root, when boiled, tastes to me something like parsnips.

The origin of Evening Primrose is North America but it spread to Europe by the cargo ship that were shipping cotton and soil was dumped and the plant began to grow. It was quickly recognized and named in Europe the "King Cureall" because of its many uses. Some of the studies that have been done on Evening Primrose oil are on PMS, Eczema, and other skin disorders, Cholesterol and Blood Pressure, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alcoholism, Immune System, Obesity, Benign Breast Disease, Childhood Hyperactivity and Schizophrenia have all been shown to be helped by EPO supplementation.

Formerly cultivated for its nutritious edible roots, it is being increasingly cultivated for the oil contained in its seeds which contains certain the essential gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a very valuable fatty acid that is not found in many plants and has numerous vital functions in the body. GLA is an essential fatty acid that the body does not manufacture. I personally have never used it except for a supplement for brittle dry nails, it is also very good for the hair. I also saw an improvement in my skin.

But the main reason I raise this herb is that it is beautiful and it brings delicious smells to my evening garden. I just like to have it around even if it was not good for medicinal uses I would invite it into my garden.

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