Evening Primrose Puzzle: One of These Things is Not Like the Others

Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis. Photo by Cory Giacobbe

Perhaps among the Evening Primroses, Oenothera biennis, you see one stalk that is just a bit taller, the leaves are a bit longer, less shiny? That’s because one single Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, insisted on moving in with them last fall after an aggressive clump of perennial Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (purchased at Home Depot in a moment of weakness when the native R. hirta, a more delicate biennial, was taking too long to establish itself) took over their spot and kicked them out. Now single R. hirta shoots are popping up here and there, exiled, tentatively trying out new spots to colonize.  The goldfinches loved the R. hirta, so I hope they make a comeback somewhere.

Meanwhile, the Evening Primroses just keep getting taller and denser each year. This native biennial wildflower is a favorite of bumble bees. It’s said to be edible for humans too.  The Sacred Earth Ethnobotany and Ecotravel website claims that the roots of the first year plants are good to eat and posts a couple of recipes. The seeds are said to have many healing properties, but they are too small to harvest in a usable quantity. The flowers are nice in a salad, although I haven’t tried it yet.  The leaves are also edible, but no recipes were offered.

Carpenter Bee on Evening Primrose. Photo by Cory Giacobbe

Evening Primroses are more than just a drop-dead gorgeous plant. They are tough little guys and very easy to grow.  According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, they are valuable to wildlife as well. The flowers attract moths, and hold special value for native bees. The seeds are eaten by birds, and small mammals eat the roots and leaves of young plants. The flowers of this plant are said to open at night, stay open in the morning and then close up in the mid-day heat. So far mine have been closed in the morning and slowly open throughout the day. I’ll keep an eye on them to see if they start to behave like a normal primrose as the summer progresses.