The plant measures from 1.20 m to 1.5 m but can reach up to 2 meters high. One hectare produces about 750 kg of seeds. The harvest is done in October and the pickers cut the long stems of the delicate yellow and fragrant flower covered with seeds with pruning shears. Flowering takes place from June to September. Flowers that only open in the evening and fade at dawn are often visited by bees and moths such as sphinxes. The elongated leaves are lanceolate and hairy.
Evening primrose is a plant native to North America. It arrived in Europe in the 18th century, using the soil used to weigh the boats: it contained seeds that then germinated and spread. It is found in the wild or cultivated for its seed rich in an oil with multiple properties. This “evening primrose” is traditionally recommended as a dietary supplement for its benefits on the female hormonal system.
It is part of the floral clock, established in 1751 by the Swedish botanist Carl Von Linné. After a very long sleep in and a good nap, the evening primrose opens its flowers around 6pm. This particularity earned him his nickname.