Oenothera elata hookeri
Hooker's Evening Primrose
a biennial or perennial member of the Oenothera genus in the family Onagraceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Genus
- Oenothera
- Life cycle
- biennial, perennial
- Height
- 0.8 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Lepidoptera, Bees, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Lepidoptera, Bees, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked. Boiled and eaten like parsnip[1]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. Added to salads or boiled as a potherb[1]. They are usually blanched before use[1]. A mucilaginous texture. The young pod-like fruits can be eaten when cooked[1].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seedpod
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant has been used in the treatment of colds[3]. A poultice of the roots or the leaves has been used in the treatment of sores and swellings[3].
- Product or use
- Poultice
Environment
- Range
- North-western N. America.
- Habitat
- Dry open soils, meadows and roadsides[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in situ from late spring to early summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a dryish well-drained sandy loam and full sun. Heavy clay soils may induce winter rots. Succeeds on poor soils. The flowers open in the evening, they are richly scented and are very attractive to moths. The seeds are a good food source for birds, especially finches. Plants usually mutate freely. This species is very closely related to, and perhaps no more than a part of, O. biennis[2].
References
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada National Museums of Canada 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-660-00025-3
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9