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Gardening

Evening Primroses

(11 Posts)
Savvy Thu 22-Jul-21 00:23:44

I have a couple of evening primrose plants in my garden which were not planted by me - I think it must have been the birds. They have come from two gardens across.

However, my elderly neighbour, who is in her 80s and loves her garden, is a bit jealous to say the least. We get on well and I've told her she is welcome to the seeds, or a cutting, or even a whole plant if she wants.

But, as I know next to nothing about them, apart from their beautiful colour, what is the best way for her to propagate my unexpected evening primrose?

DillytheGardener Thu 22-Jul-21 01:03:33

I’ve only planted them with seeds, my understanding is that they aren’t plants that take well to being replanted or divided.

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/86498/Oenothera-biennis/Details

Savvy Thu 22-Jul-21 02:34:15

Thanks DillytheGardener I'll try and get her some seeds when they've finished flowering.

NotSpaghetti Thu 22-Jul-21 07:11:12

Not everyone loves this plant.
I do... but here are 4 versions of this "weed":

www.gardenorganic.org.uk/weeds/evening-primrose

Beechnut Thu 22-Jul-21 07:22:31

I have them coming up everywhere in my garden from self scattered seeds. I pull them up if I don’t want them in a particular place. I think they take being replanted if you do it when they are very young plants.

DillytheGardener Thu 22-Jul-21 08:11:32

Beechnut that’s interesting, how did your young plants get on when you replanted them?
I haven’t grown them in about 20 years as I got rid of mine for spreading to where they weren’t wanted. I also found they looked tatty before other flowers in my bed. Warn your neighbour they like to spread, as if she is in her 80’s she might not like the extra weeding if they go nuts.

timetogo2016 Thu 22-Jul-21 08:25:25

I love evening primrose and after reading the above i am giong to buy some seeds and scatter them with my poppy seeds.
Thanks for the info all.

Beechnut Thu 22-Jul-21 09:35:36

This is one I grew on in a pot Dilly for my daughter who doesn’t want it ?.
Although it doesn’t look the best I’m going to plant it in my front garden. It will be the only one out there so I’ll be able to tell if it survives.

DillytheGardener Thu 22-Jul-21 12:07:07

Beechnut adult children always seem to reject our offerings don’t they! ??

That’s very interesting I might give that a go, my front garden is really just paving stones so if it works in pots and less than sheltered positions it might work. My garden is a delight and the front has a dentist practice in house feel ?

Savvy Thu 22-Jul-21 21:20:18

Thanks all.

I've had a word with my neighbour today, who's still miffed that the birds dropped the seeds in my garden and not hers, and I've given her permission to come and get the seeds when they are ready.

She's suggested putting a paper bag over the seed pods to collect them as they fall. That way we can both gather them and plant as required.

Savvy Thu 22-Jul-21 21:26:37

DillytheGardener I'll warn her about the spread, but they both spend a couple of hours doing their garden each day. She admitted to me today that gardening helps with her mental health and keeps her active, so I tend to let her grab anything from my garden that she wants and she always asks permission first.

She's waiting to raid my blackberries for jam making, but I think she may have to wait a couple of weeks.