During the 17th century, this herb was called the "King's cure-all" by herbalists, and it was considered a panacea for treating most ailments
The whole plant is edible: the leaves can be cooked as greens, and the nutty-flavoured roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes, parsnips, or salsify. The flowers make an especially lovely salad garnish.
The seeds are used to produce evening primrose oil.

This introduced and widespread naturalised (although apparently decreasing) wild flower, has a bright nectar guide pattern, invisible in visible light, but apparent under ultraviolet light, which assists pollination by Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and bees.

The sweetly scented flowers of this herb open towards evening and are faintly phosphorescent. The flowers represent fickleness in the Victorian language of flowers, perhaps because as the season progresses, the flowers, which normally open only at dusk, will open in the morning but not have a scent until the evening.

Sowing:
Sow in early//late spring and late summer/autumn.
Start in early spring or in autumn to bloom the following year.
It can be interplanted with medicinal herbs. It can also be grown in sandy areas where domesticated plants don't do very well.
The plant likes temperate areas and is hardy down to -23°C (-10°F)

Surface sow at 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in pots or trays containing good seed compost. Do not cover the seed as they need light for germination. Make sure the compost is moist but not wet and seal inside a polythene bag until germination which usually takes 15-30 days at 18-21°C (65-70°F).
If no germination in 3 wks, move to 4°C (39ºF) for 4 wks, for 7 to 28 days.
Transplant the indoor seedlings when large enough to handle into pots and grow on. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. plant 20-30cm (8-12") apart in full sun or partial shade

Cultivation:
Water the new plant weekly throughout its first summer, until it is established. Water established plants only during dry summers.
Apply a light application of dry organic fertilizer to the top of the soil in spring.
Cut back the old stems to the ground in early spring.

Medicinal Uses:
Herbalists consider the leaves together with the stem bark, flowers and seed oil to be the valuable parts. They have been used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders, whooping cough and asthma. A tea made from the roots is also used in the treatment of obesity. Many modern herbalists use an extract in cough remedies

Quotes:
Culpeper: "as fine a salve to heal wounds as any that I know".
Pursh: "frequently observed a singularity in this plant, it is that in a dark night, when no objects can be distinguished at an inconsiderable distance, this plant, when in full flower, can be seen at a great distance, having a bright white appearance, which probably may arise from some phosphoric properties of the flowers."
( King's American Dispensatory , Felter and Lloyd, 18th Edition, 1898)

Magick Herb:
“Herb for a successful hunt”
Sew a small sachet out of muslin and fill it with the root of the evening primrose plant. If you don't hunt then try taking it with you when you go shopping for bargains!