Evening Primrose Flower Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Legends
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Evening Primrose Flower Facts
The Evening Primrose Flower is not really a Primrose, they are not even closely related. It is a gorgeous bright yellow flower belonging to the Onagraceae or Willowherb family which originates from North America. Its beauty has made the flower cultivated all around the world.
Typically yellow in color, there are also Evening Primrose Flowers in other colors such as pink, white, red, and purple. Evening Primrose stems can reach three to five feet in height. The flowers usually have four petals that makes up a bowl shape, about three inches in diameter, and only bloom during spring and summer.
The bright wildflower got its name around the way it blooms in the late afternoon, stays in bloom throughout the evening, and closes at sunrise. The time of their blooming makes them attractive to their primary pollinators, moths. Because Evening Primroses only open late in the afternoon, they are commonly cultivated in butterfly gardens and moon gardens, along with other night-blooming flowers.
The Evening Primrose Flower has other common names including evening star, sundrop, fever-plant, hog weed, and King’s cure-all. Evening Primrose is quite successful at dispersing their seeds (producing about 150,000 seeds in a single season), so much that they are often considered to be common weeds. The wildflower can grow anywhere with plenty of sunshine and good soil drainage.
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Evening Primrose Flower Uses
Most parts of the Evening Primrose are edible displaying a mild flavor. Indigenous people of North America used the Evening Primrose in their traditional cooking and medicinal treatments. Most notably, the Anishinaabe tribes, traditionally use the Evening Primrose leaves for tea which reportedly helps with fatigue and serves as a dietary aid for weight loss.
The Evening Primrose roots and stems can be eaten raw or cooked and can be used in salads, soups, and stews. The leaves and seeds of the flower are also used in salads.
The roots are also considered useful in traditional medicine which is in the form of a poultice to externally treat boils and piles. Evening Primrose seeds are harvested for their oil and used as remedy treatments for various ailments including eczema, acne, pains, and PMS symptoms. However, doctors caution patients to only use Evening Primrose oil as a complementary remedy along with prescribed treatments.
Evening Primroses are ornamental flowers and popular in greenhouses and botanical gardens for pollinators due to their abundant amount of nectar. The flower’s seeds are also a great source of food for birds.
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Evening Primrose Flower History
The Evening Primrose Flower has a genus name Oenothera biennis, where Oenothera is believed to have come from a Greek word that means wine scenting. This may be in association with the roots of the flower having been used to add fragrance to wine.
The flower originated in North America and was introduced to Europe in the 1600s where it quickly grew in popularity as an ornamental flower because of its eye-catching color. Ever generous with its seeds, the Evening Primrose easily spread throughout Europe.
European medieval medicine used the flower to cure ailments in the 17th century, similar to North American traditional medicine. It was often used as a cure-all herbal remedy which gained it the name King’s cure-all.
Evening Primroses were also described in the 1851 book, The Flower Garden by Joseph Breck, an American curator and museum director.
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Evening Primrose Flower Positive Symbolism
The Evening Primrose Flower in the flower language is mainly negative in meaning with a few of the positive symbolisms. The interpretations all depend on the relationship between the individual giving and receiving the flower as well as the occasion.
When given Evening Primrose Flowers, a positive meaning comes to symbolize sweet memories between the two persons. It is also associated with young love and can be interpreted to mean “I cannot live without you” when given between a young couple.
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Evening Primrose Flower Negative Symbolism
In the Victorian era where flower arrangements are a form of language and each flower has its own symbolism, it is unfortunate for the flower to mainly symbolize negative meanings. The Evening Primrose Flower is seen as a display of fickleness and faithlessness.
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Evening Primrose Flower Cultural Symbolism
The Evening Primrose Flower has a long history of use from the Americas to Europe. Native American tribes use the flower for food and medicine and would have tattoos symbolizing the flowers.
Another popular meaning behind the flower amongst Americans is new beginnings, youth, and renewal. This is because the Primrose Flower is one of the first flowers to bloom when spring arrives.
In modern times, the Evening Primrose Flower is more commonly known for its uses in medicinal treatments which is mainly associated with the oil it produces. Modern people see Evening Primrose Flowers as a material for alleviating pains and other ailments, especially for females and those with skin problems.
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Evening Primrose Flower Zodiac Sign
Evening Primrose Flowers are highly connected to the zodiac sign Cancer. The Cancer season starts in the summer while also ruled by the moon and its many phases. It is similar to the Evening Primrose Flowers that thrive in sunny places but also blooms throughout the night.
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Evening Primrose Flower in Dreams
There is little to no information about Evening Primrose Flowers appearing in dreams. However, due to the recent increasing popular use of Evening Primrose oils, there is a new study that links the use of Evening Primrose oil with experiencing nightmares. There is currently no known reason to establish why.
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Evening Primrose Flower Omens and Superstitions
Superstitions surrounding Evening Primrose Flowers are not commonly known. However, there is a superstition that homeowners should only bring 13 Evening Primroses into their houses at any given time. Nothing more, nothing less. If not, bad luck will come into their home and the people that live there.
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Evening Primrose Flower Mythology and Folklore
There is something mystical about the Evening Primrose Flower, mainly because it can grow and thrive in otherwise dry soils and it only opens late in the afternoon and throughout the night, closing when the sun comes out. According to one myth, faeries, who usually only appear at twilight, harvest the dews of the flower for mixing magic potions.
