Evening Primrose Wildflower

This is a great seed to plant in a new wildflower planting because it will germinate and grow quickly and cover the ground to keep weeds out for the first few years while the slower growing native wildflowers get going. Native wildflowers require a “cold stratification” or cold treatment before they will germinate. Options: 1) sow seeds outside before March 1st or 2) mix the seeds into ½ cup of moist sand in a sealed plastic bag and place in the refrigerator for 6 weeks before planting or 3) Plant the seeds in the late summer or fall so they are naturally exposed to the cold and will germinate the following spring/summer. Plant these seeds in bare mineral soil In a full sun location. After germination, thin the seedlings so that they are about 1 1/2 ft apart. You can also start indoors May through July in pots or flats after first cold stratification in the refrigerator. Germination takes about 14-21 days at 70 degrees. Transplant after several true leaves have developed. Evening Primrose is a biennial which means that in its first year of life, the plants will not flower but will produce a leafy rosette at ground level. In its second year, stiff flower stems will shoot out from its base. Plants will re-seed which is perfect for a wild planting but they may become weedy in a formal garden.