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Flowers open at night and close by noon the next day, thus the name ""biennis"".
Clinical trials with evening primrose oil indicate that it may be invaluable in treating a number of disorders, including heart disease and arthritis.(Clough)
Studies have shown that evening primrose oil can help treat eczema, asthma, migraine headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, inflammation, PMS, breast problems, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and even alcoholism. These recommendations should be considered with caution.(Kershaw)
It is pollinated by the night visiting hawk moth. Pollinated in Ontario and further east by the evening-primrose lasioglossum bee (Lasioglossum oenotherae) before 9am. (David Suzuki Foundation)
The leaves, shoots and roots are edible. Aboriginal cultures used them for many culinary and medical purposes. The roots can be eaten like potatoes and taste like parsnip or salsify.
(USDA PLANTS)
The oil from the seeds is one of the few plant sources of gamma-linoleic acid an essential fatty acid. Because the seeds are hard to extract, evening-primrose capsules are expensive but popular as a dietary supplement.
Flowers yield a yellow dye. (Plants for a Future)
Plants can be divided in spring or fall, or started by seeds that mature in late summer. A single plant will produce many volunteer seedlings.
Habitat Information: This plant is biennial, so will come up every second year. This is a plant that does well in early successional disturbed areas, so will often inhabit roadsides and other places native plants are not quick to take hold again after any disturbance.
Garden Uses: Because it is so hardy, it is one of few native plants that is considered a weed in urban gardens still, so you may want to let it come into your garden by itself instead of buying this plant, and you might find it hard to get rid of it once it takes hold. (Evergreen)
Insect Relationships: The following study by Michigan State University detailed insects that were attracted to specific native plant species. The following insects were shown to be attracted to this plant: Natural Enemies Attracted: Medium numbers of Plagiognathus politus and Orius insidiousus. Small Pests Attracted: Large numbers of lygus bugs, leafhoppers, and Japanese beetles. Small numbers of thrips, aphids, leaf beetles and weevils. Bees attracted: None collected using the vacuum sampling method, but low numbers (less than 1 bee per meter square during 5 minute visual observations) of bees were observed. (Michigan State University)
Traditional Edible, Medicinal Uses: Cherokee, Iroquois, Ojjibwas, Potowatomi and other First Nations use evening primrose for various purposes. Roots were boiled and eaten like potatoes. Young leaves were cooked as greens. Shoots were eaten raw, and tea made for dietary, stimulant purposes. A poultice was applied to boils from pounded roots. The entire plant was applied to bruises as poultice. Also was rubbed on muscles to improve strength, used as a menstrual aid, and for bowel pain. (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) This plant is used in modern herbalism and as a food supplement since it has a rich supply of omega fatty acids (linoleic, gamma linolenic acids) (Kemper, 1999, as cited in in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)
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