What Is Evening Primrose King's Cure-All?

Evening primrose King's Cure-All is a distinctive perennial flower prized for its delicate blooms and historical significance in traditional gardens. This charming plant, named for its legendary healing properties in folk traditions, brings both beauty and heritage to any garden landscape. With its reliable growth habit and cheerful flowers, King's Cure-All evening primrose is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a plant with character and garden presence.

Growing Evening Primrose King's Cure-All in Your Garden

Evening primrose King's Cure-All thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, preferring lean to moderately fertile conditions. Plant it in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering and plant vigor. This plant is drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for water-wise gardening and regions with limited rainfall.

Space King's Cure-All plants about 18 inches apart to accommodate their spreading growth habit. The plant is hardy in most climates and can be grown as a perennial in cooler regions, returning reliably each season. This variety typically reaches 12 to 20 inches in height and produces delicate flowers that open in the evening hours, creating a magical garden display as daylight fades.

Flowering and Garden Display

King's Cure-All evening primrose begins flowering in mid-summer and continues producing blooms throughout the season with regular deadheading. The plant's charming flowers attract pollinators and create visual interest in garden beds, borders, and cottage-style plantings. The evening-opening blooms make this variety particularly special for gardeners who enjoy twilight garden walks and evening outdoor time.

This flower pairs beautifully with other perennials, native plants, and drought-tolerant companions. Its historical significance and traditional garden appeal make it a wonderful addition to heritage gardens and landscapes designed to celebrate heirloom plant varieties.

Caring for Your King's Cure-All Plants

Water evening primrose King's Cure-All sparingly once established, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. This plant prefers dry conditions and overwatering can cause root issues. King's Cure-All requires no fertilization and actually performs better in poor soil. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming and maintain plant appearance.

Prune back the plant in late fall or early spring to maintain a neat, compact shape and remove any winter-damaged growth. In colder climates, this variety is naturally hardy and requires no special winter protection. With minimal care and attention, King's Cure-All evening primrose will provide years of reliable blooms and timeless garden charm.

In summary, the night-flowering Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) has delicate four-petal lemon-scented lemon-yellow 2" blossoms that close every day by noon, opening again in the late afternoon and evening. Plants grow 2'-6' tall on hairy stems tinged with purple.

Also called King’s Cure-All for its herbal and medicinal properties.

• Life cycle: Biennial
• Bloom season: Spring, summer, fall
• Attracts: Birds, bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators
• Flower meaning: Bashfulness, inconstancy, longevity, youth

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Oenothera biennis
• Hardiness zones: 4-9
• Planting season: Spring, summer
• Days to maturity: 2nd year
• Cold stratify: Yes
• Depth to plant seeds: Lightly cover - seeds need light to germinate
• Spacing between plants: 12"-18" apart
• Days to germinate (sprout): 15-30 days
• Germination soil temps: 65F-70F
• Soil types: Sandy, loamy, rich, well-drained
• Soil pH: 5.5-7.5
• Water needs: Average
• Sun needs: Full sun, part shade
• Frost tolerant: No
• Drought tolerant: Yes
• Deer resistant: Yes