Because evening primrose spreads so rapidly, you don’t want to plant it in a place that would need a self-contained plant or one that requires much care to spread into overgrowth.
Evening primrose will not survive in a completely shaded area, so be sure there is some direct sunlight in the planting location you choose. Try to choose locations that are south-facing or west-facing, and that are somewhat sheltered from the elements.
Evening primrose will grow in cool, warm, hot, or arid places.
There are also various online sources where you can buy evening primrose seeds. [3] X Research source You can also purchase evening primrose plants if you wish to avoid planting and tending to seeds/seedlings.
As primarily annual plants that bloom from spring to fall, evening primrose does not tolerate cold weather very well. Plant the seeds in an equal mixture of soil, peat moss, and sand. You can plant the seeds indoors initially to help the seedlings get a jump start. If so, plant them ten weeks before the first frost-free date in your area. Also, make sure to place the seedlings by the windows while they are indoors to ensure they still get some direct sunlight.
You should try to transfer as much of the original soil as possible to protect the plant’s root system. Dig a hole in the new container (or in the ground soil) that will hold the entire plant, soil and all. Then you can fill in any extra space with additional soil.
Once the plants are well-established, they are quite hardy and require little maintenance (other than pruning). They can withstand hot, arid temperatures and semi-drought conditions. If you live in a dry climate, add a layer of mulch around the plants to help the soil retain moisture. Add fertilizer to the plants a few times throughout the year to help them grow.
You will need to do very little maintenance once the plant has acclimated to its permanent location.
It will also help your plant remain strong and sturdy while it is maturing and growing. If you want your evening primrose to spread, be sure to leave the buds intact. If you mow your lawn where the plants are growing, remember to raise the height of the blade so that the buds won’t be chopped off.
This could be problematic because it could crowd the existing plants, or overtake their root systems in the pot.
