Whole plant is edible as a vegetable. Add flowers to salads, or use them as a garnish. Use leaves in salads or stirfries. Seeds can be chewed, or cooked in breads and biscuits, or steamed, or roasted in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 180C and sprinkled on food like pepper. Leaves and roots can be eaten fresh. The roots are sometimes eaten like olives as an after-dinner treat, or boiled like potatoes.

Medicinally, entire plant can be used, although the oil obtained from the flowers has the best medicinal virtues. Use 1 teaspoon herb per 1 cup boiling water, cool and drink cold, 1 tablespoon at a time over the course of a day. FOr medicinal purposes, the plant is best harvested in autumn, but it can be harvested at any time, really.

Expert supervision is recommended when using the essential oil for medicinal purposes. Do not use this herb if suffering from epilepsy or taking anticonvulsive drugs.

You know, of course, that some people refer to evening primrose as a weed? That's because once you've got it, it can take over! Which is just fine if you want to use it in quantity like you do. It's a pretty thing, and the perfume is divine, especially in the evenings.

Why not try growing some violets, too? Violets have an even better folklore reputation for treating cancer (leaves mostly but also the flowers). You could also consider astragalus for improving the immune system, especially if you're having radiation or chemotherapy.

Good luck, and of course please check with your doctor before starting on any herbal medicine regime, most particularly if you are already having conventional treatments.

Many thanks Daisy. I'm not so much looking for medicinal uses although that is obviously going to be in its favour, and anything anti-cancer appeals. I read that it can take up a lot of space and get a bit feral. So while medicinal value is useful, it comes in the framework of edible produce rather than the primary reason for growing it. Since my garden is small, I wanted to assess its value in edible as well as medicinal ways. If I can eat the whole plant then it is valuable! I'm told it is good for high blood pressure and arthritis, a side effect of Tamoxifen so its looking very useful. I love to pick a variety of leaves not just boring old lettuce, so if this can be used and will do me some good to boot, I'll let it have its head! The stirfry sounds good! Now I'll head off and taste it! Thanks for the tip about violets too. I have the very spot for growing them. I have had surgery, radiation and chemo but being a pro active kind of gal I like to take charge in some areas myself. I am cautious about taking herbal medications, vitamins and such unless for specific reasons that have a short term and identifiable result. The physical improvement through gardening has got me through the last 2 years and what goes into my mouth helps towards preparation for either future treatment or prolonged longevity!
Thanks again, I'll nurture the primrose and see how it goes.

Linda

Linda, all the very best with your treatment. Many of the anti-cancer drugs are plant derived. My ex-girlfriends Mum had ovarian cancer and was trialing one made from english Yew, Taxus baccata. Showed a lot of promise apparently.

Evening primrose is a beautiful plant. It grows as a weed all down the roadsides in areas of South Australia, especially kangaroo island where I've just been visiting my Dad. It has escaped from cultivation in peoples gardens. The women brought it with them from england to treat their menstral pain. Most people don't know what it is now, even modern women taking evening primrose oil in tablet form drive past the beautiful blooms every day blissfully unaware of it's identity...