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This week’s Wildflower Wednesday feature flower is the Evening Primrose.
Evening Primrose is a native flower that blooms July-October. It is a hardy, almost weedy flower that can grow up to 6 feet tall and is often found on roadsides and wastelands.
Despite its name it is not a member of the Primrose family. Its name comes from the bloom time of its flowers. They open late in the day and close at sunrise. It is often used in moon gardens because of its nighttime blooms.
It is a popular herbal remedy for a wide variety of ailments and is cultivated in many countries for its oil which contains high levels of beta-linolenic and gamma-linoleic acids which are beneficial for health. As a folk remedy it was used to treat sore throat, arthritis and laziness.
According to folklore, at night fairies would dance among the Evening Primrose and in the morning, they would harvest dew from the flowers to make magic potions. It was believed that the fairies would bless anyone who respected their beloved flowers.
