17/07/2026
Plants of the Park #4 EVENING PRIMROSE (Oenothera biennia)
Conservation status: common
A hairy biennial with bowl shaped fragrant yellow flowers which commonly thrives on waste ground, footpaths and dunes.
Although not a true member of the Primrose family, the name Evening Primrose refers to its behaviour of opening its flowers at night, known as nyctinasty.
🐝 With bright scented blooms at that appear to glow in the dark, the plant is an important food source for night flying moths and bees.
Evening Primrose oil is commonly taken for a range of conditions including arthritis and pre-menstrual syndrome although there is very little evidence from clinical trials to support its effectiveness.
