Evening PrimroseThe evening primrose is a biennial shrub native to North American. It can grow to as high as 4 to 5 feet, with a firm and stout stem, and hairy branches. Its lemon-scented leaves emerge alternately and have a length as long as 6 inches. In spring time, it produces yellow flower spikes on its branches. The flower, with four petals opens in the evening—thus the name—and close as the sun rises. Moths are especially attracted to primrose plants due to the flower’s strong sweet aroma. It also bears fruits, oblong and as small as an inch, and which contain several small red seeds. The Rockies of the Atlantic are abundant in evening primrose. Its cultivation reaches the United Kingdom, and almost commonplace in the world, especially by the roadsides, gravelly places, meadows, railway banks, and waste places. 
From summer to fall, the primrose blooms. Experts about this shrub say that everything about the scented shrub, known by its other monikers like scurvish, tree primrose, night willow-herb, fever plants, and king’s cure-all, is edible. In fact, it is known for its essential oil and therapeutic properties.In spring, its roots and leaves are gathered and frozen; while during blooms, its flowers, buds, and young seed pods are collected. In fall, the whole plant can be gathered and dried for herbal applications. The seeds are particularly collected and pressed for essential oil; or they can be ground and used as flax seeds are used. The essential oil of evening primrose is high in essential fatty acids the gamma-linoleic and linoleic. It can also be used as medicine using hexane, a type of chemical. Both of these amino acids belong to the omega-6 family of fatty acids, thus, they are health-enhancers. Among the uses of this essential oil are for relief from allergies, itchiness due to eczema and dermatitis, pre-menstrual syndrome, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, breast pain and breast cysts, asthma, heart disease, In Germany, the root as food is known as German rampion. Others use the leaves of the plants as poultices for bruises and hemorrhoids. In some countries, the plant is used to prepare a medicine called Shaker, and sold in the market. Cultivation of the scented plant is easy. Its soil preferences are acidic, neutral, and basic alkalinic. The soil must be well-drained, and the plant favors full sunlight exposure. Because they are self-sowing, they are virtually maintenance-free. A plant of evening primrose can last up to two years.
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