Most people don’t think about eating evening primrose because they associate this plant with its healing oil. This wild plant is indeed medicine but it is also a great source of food.
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a biennial and collecting the roots while it is still spring means you get sweet, succulent and somewhat fleshy root. This plant grows a big root, some of them the width (and appearance) of a parsnip and once washed, you can eat them raw if you wanted to. You can collect roots later in its growth but they won’t be as fleshy as they are now.
You’ll find evening primrose in waste areas, meadows, on beaches, in dunes, even along roadsides. This versatile plant is native to Canada and the US and grows in all provinces (not the territories) and in most states. It has been naturalized in Great Britain, parts of Europe, and it also grows in Russia, eastern Asia, South American, Australia and some Pacific islands including New Zealand. You won’t find this plant in the shade because it loves full sun. The best part of all is that evening primrose is drought tolerant so no matter how hot your summer may get, it’ll still grow.
The leaves of the second year plant can be used in any way you prepare greens in the kitchen, the roots can be eaten raw (in small quantities) or roasted, the flowers taste amazing so toss them into a salad and the seed pods while they are young can be roasted. Even young stems can be used in the kitchen to create some amazing meals.
Evening primrose contains protein, carbohydrates, beta carotene, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B3. This plant also contains high levels of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) which of course is an Omega-6 fatty acid which is important in supporting the immune system. The body converts GLAs into prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds that help regulate many body functions.
The seeds are a great source of the amino acid tryptophan which our bodies convert into serotonin, the mood improving brain chemical. Lastly, the leaves are a great source of the bioflavonoid quercetin. This keeps our blood vessels healthy, improves circulation and it can ease the effects of asthma.
English settlers in America took the seeds back to England as early as 1614, and in the decades following, evening primrose was grown in both English and German gardens for its nut-flavoured roots which were boiled like parsnips. In fact, in the 1880’s the evening primrose became a very popular garden vegetable in Germany.
Native Americans used evening primrose for a variety of medicinal purposes. The Ojibwa poulticed all parts of this plant for use on bruises. The Cherokee drank a tea made from the root to help lose weight. The Forest Potawatomi considered the seeds a valuable medicine, but records documenting its use have sadly been lost. European settlers started using the plant as medicine in the 1700’s. The Shakers used the leaves or roots externally to promote healing of wounds and a tea of the leaf and root to settle an upset stomach.
You can capture the goodness of this plant by making oil; and it’s real easy:
- Sterilize a glass jar and lid.
- Collect evening primrose flowers that are free of any dew or rain (they must not have any moisture) in your glass jar. Be sure to fill the jar (do not stuff).
- Using a carrier oil of your choice (olive oil will do), pour oil into the jar until flowers are covered in oil.
- Poke the flowers to ensure there are no trapped air bubbles.
- Cover and let sit two weeks. Shake daily. After two weeks, strain the flowers out.
Use this oil to help enhance the nutrition of your home made salad dressings!
Evening primrose is food and it is medicine – be sure to discover its goodness this year! Check out the link here to see what this amazing plant looks like throughout the year.
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You are so interesting! I don’t believe I’ve
truly read through anything like that before. So great
to find another person with some original thoughts on this subject matter.
Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is
something that’s needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!
Great to have come across your site. I was doing an internet search to find out how to extract oil from the seeds but now I know I can do so much more, I will try it all out!
I recently found what I hoped in this website, thank you for your had work,know it in the least. Nice job.
so much info, i learned alot.
Do you know if you can eat the showy evening primrose? Does it have the same nutritional value?
I do not think these are edible. They do not come up in any book or search I have done that indicates these are a food source.
Can I use the leaves for tea?
In moderation, yes.
Hi, what ate your sources for the Native American uses of this plant?
All sources are listed below the article!
Can you use dried evening primrose to make the oil?
Not to my knowledge – you need fresh I do believe.
Your article is very good, me and everyone have more useful information. Primrose flowers are one of my favorite species, they bring a very sweet taste and bright colors.
Thank you!
Your article says second year leaves are cooked like any greens, what about the first year? And how do you tell between 1st year and second year? I see the rosettes of these in the spring, was wondering if they are first year growth and if they can be made like dandelion? Do you know of any other plant or chemical bad or good interactions? Thanks for making this page, I am learning more and more about wild edibles and medicinals!
Evening primrose is a biennial meaning its life is only 2 years. The first year is only a rosette of leaves on the ground and it does not grow a stem… that is year two. Then it produces leaves you can eat! Leave the rosettes so it can get to year 2 of growth.
Interactions are usually when plants are used medicinally and the person is on pharmaceutical drugs. There are many plants that should be eaten in small amounts only – especially if a person may have kidney issues.
Can the stemless evening primrose be used in this same manner?
Are you meaning the first year of the evening primrose or another species? If so what is the Latin name?
My beloved Autumn sent me this link, great stuff! Keep it coming
Thank you and lots more to come!!!
Thank you for this information. I just went to have a lung function test today and then I read that evening primrose will help asthma. On the way home from town I noticed so much evening primrose growing alongside the road. More than I have ever seen. I will make some oil.
Glad to hear this Jennifer!! The supplement NAC has helped many people – please do your research on this first though! Here is a good start! http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000298
Would these edible properties also apply to Beach Evening Primrose?
This I do not know. Sorry about that!
Planning to harvest evening primrose flowers tomorrow and make the oil.
So exciting!
The health benefits are very important for every research, I am so grateful having this good content collected more information here. Thank you so much for sharing a quality content.
You are most welcome – and thank you!
Have you tried freeze drying evening primrose? Would it keep its medicinal properties? I just got a freeze dryer and I have a bunch of evening primrose growing in my yard.
This I have not done! I’m not sure if it would maintain all its properties – I doubt it though.
Thank you socmuch for the very useful information.
Do you think seeds should be eaten carfully? Very small doses, daily? Would there be side effects?
Always small quantities – too much of a good thing can be a bad thing!!
I’m not sure what the seed pods of evening primrose seed pods are. Is there a picture?
Can theses be planted next year in my garden in the fall or spring?
Joan king
I will have to add photos of the seed pods on the site. There are “dead” ones there though! https://www.ediblewildfood.com/evening-primrose.aspx
I’ve picked a vast quantity of evening primrose and separated out the pods. I’ve seen that young pods can be steamed and eaten as they are. I intend to harvest the seeds from the mature pods, and I’m looking for suggestions how to do this the most efficiently?
I’m afraid I do not have any suggestions that would be helpful. Having patience is all I can suggest!
Let them dry well and then shake in a paper bag.
William, see my comment below.
The health benefits are very important for every research, I am so grateful having this good content collected more information here. Thank you so much for sharing a quality content.
Hi, I have been growing a variety of evening primrose that gets almost 6 feet tall and reseeds each year, I saved a bunch of seed heads, let them thoroughly dry, and then shook into a paper bag. After sifting most of the shaft out with a colindar, I ended up with over a cup of seeds! I know these are nutritious, and I’d like to add them to smoothies and salads. Do you have any idea of how much I should eat at a time?
Thank you!
I don’t have an answer to that really good question. It could be like flax or chia – – some is fine. I am a firm believer of too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
I have pink primrose can these be used also the look totally different from what is pictured.
I don’t know what plant you have so I cannot answer that – if it is totally different I would not be taking any chances if I were you.
Is there a use for just petal I make rose petal water for my skin can I do the same with evening primrose as they smell soo pretty?
I am not sure – but given that this is a very useful plant it would not surprise me!!
Hello, Is it safe to eat the leaves from the first year plant?
Yes!
Hi my friend has psoriasis and I ve read that eveing primrose oil is good for it to help clear it up, do you have any suggestions which carrier oil I could use . Thankyou Jane
Hi, thank you for this. I’ve 2 in their 2nd year flowering at present. To use them to make oil, is it the petals only or the whole flower head with stamens etc? Can’t see any pods.
I have primrose in back and front garden
An amazing display when evening falls.
I use the petal and tender leaves into my salad is that OK? Wil definitely make primrose oil and more Thankyou