Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Evening Primrose' seeds

Part of the Kew Pollinators seed range, developed alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Evening Primrose is best known for its fragrant, bright yellow, cup-shaped blooms that unfurl from slender pointed buds through summer, drawing in a steady stream of pollinating insects. Upright and bushy in habit, it's a superb choice for sunny spots on light, sandy soils, and once established, it will self-seed to form sprawling colonies of plants, creating a wonderfully naturalistic effect. This makes it a lovely addition to wildlife areas and wildflower planting schemes, where it can be left to spread and settle in on its own terms rather than being carefully managed.

Growing guide

Direct sow outdoors from March to June, choosing a position in full sun on well-drained soil raked to a fine tilth. Sow seeds thinly and cover lightly with a sprinkling of soil. Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 30cm apart.

Alternatively, sow indoors from August to November, scattering seed on the surface of good seed compost and covering with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator, or seal inside a polythene bag, at 10–15°C until germination, which usually takes 14–21 days — don't exclude light, as this helps the process along. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into trays or 7.5cm pots and grow on in cooler conditions until ready to go outside. When all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise plants gradually before planting out in well-drained soil in full sun, spacing at 30cm apart.

Once established, Evening Primrose is largely self-sufficient, self-seeding readily to produce new plants each spring. Simply deadhead if you don't want the seedlings, and cut plants back to just above ground level in autumn. Plants reach up to 150cm tall with a 60cm spread.