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I have taken over a lottie which has some evening primrose on it, plants have pretty yellow flowers but other than look at it not sure what Iam supposed to do with it! Should I/can I make a tea out of it? any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

You might find these links of use:
ibscrohns.about.com/od/ alternativeremedies/p/eveningprimrose.htm

altnature.com/gallery/Evening_Primrose.htm

www.edibleplants.com/dwvplants.htm

Hi Bigdumbird,
                       Evening Primrose(Oenothera biennis) Is grown primarily for the the seed it produces.

The seed contains an oil called gammalinolenic acid or GLA as it is more commonly known.

GLA is used in many of the anti-aging skin preparations on the market, but is mostly associated with the treatment of PMS and menapause symptoms.

PS:- The root can also be eaten as a vegetable and the young shoots can be added to salad dishes.

I hope this information is of some help to you.

                                                        PREMTAL :)

wow PREMTAL !! excellent info

Well I have it in my garden...cos it looks preeety!  ;D

When you say young shoots, do you mean the young leaves?

Me to EJ because of the lovely scent in the evening.  Never thought of eating them but I have few extra to try..............on someone else maybe  ;)

Well its appeared from nowhere in my garden this year.

I had no idea what is was that was growing so frantically so i left it to see what happened, and i am almost certain that it is evening primrose.

The flowers are so preety, and the perfume as you say is exquisite at night.

But now i am not sure what to do, will it take over, should i reduce it or should i just leave it and enjoy it and maybe reduce it next year if need be? ???

I want to enjoy it, without it  taking over but am unsure about its spreading habits.

Mine don't spread at all.  They will climb waist high and then start producing from side shoots or you can pinch out the top at a height that suits and get a bushier plant.

I do both depending on where they are but have never had them self seed....

I had them self-seeding for a while but they're all gone now. maybe I should plant more. I don't knopw what species I had, it's on several plots, self-seeded. It grows gigantic elephant hawk moth caterpillars.

Posted by: Icyberjunkie  Posted on: Today at 19:12:19 
Insert Quote 
Mine don't spread at all.


<<<<<<<<famous last words.  Just came in from watering the garden and guess what I found hiding at the back of a bed!  Only noticed it because the flowers had opened  ::)

GLA was first prescribed for me over 20 years ago when I was in my early 40's for an extremely painful but benign condition called Mastalgic breast pain (which can be either cyclical or non-cyclical) by the Royal Marsden Hospital.....it transformed my life.

I took it then (on prescription) in the form of tablets but this was withdrawn when my Health Authority at the time, decided it was too expensive for me to continue to receive it.

At a following check-up, The Royal Marsden were not happy with this decision and wrote to them about it - the drug was re-introduced.

However, once I was no longer under the care of Royal Marsden (some 10 years ago now) I was unable to continue with the drug (no longer allowed it on prescription)

I started to buy it from a chemist or health shop but found out that what you buy 'over the counter' was nothing like the strength available to me via the prescription or sufficient to keep the pain at bay.

I eventually started to purchase from a reputable mail order firm but eventually changed the product to STARFLOWER OIL (also known as Borage Oil) as this contains an even greater amount of natural GLA....I remain comfortable whilst I take it (would never stop it) but do know that should I leave it off for any length of time, my symptoms would soon return.

I do occasionally still get a sudden 'burst' of pain tho which is very short-lived.....

Sorry this is so long but felt I should tell you of my experiences of this wonderful oil....I'm now almost 65! and my pain was definitely non-cyclical.

I was being kept 'an eye on' by The Royal Marsden because of other family history and constant pain.

H.P.

Hi EJ,
         In herbal terms young shoots normally signifies first growth of the season.

I would think that young foliage would also fall into that category for salad use relative to this particular herb.
                                                     
PS:- If you have an interest tonic herbs/ fruit see my posting to Flowerlady/ The Basics/ Re- Insect repelents.


                                                          PREMTAL ;)



                             

Hey guys,

Do agree with Honeybee and Icyberjunkie - wonderful scent on the evening air.

This is great, I can see my plot is going to be growing more and more flowering produce than some of my neighbours will think appropriate vegetable growing '   ;D

where I am there are a great deal of senior retirees, who do like to complain about others weeds, but boy you should see theirs!!

... and they don't smell so nice either - their weeds that is! ;D