Last autumn, I discovered that the roots of evening primrose can be eaten and are apparently like parsnips. So, today I finally got round to digging up last year’s plants, which I thought had died, in order to see what these roots looked like.
The first batch were underwhelming – very small, in fact. However, there were a couple of plants which had grown away from the main patch. These had substantially bigger roots, so had they been younger, I would have tried eating them now.
I don’t know why the roots are supposed to be eaten young but my guess is that they become woody with age. I will, nonetheless, steam the bigger ones and see what they look/smell like.
On a different note, I noticed that new leaves were starting to grow on the stems of the plants I had dug up. I am therefore a little disappointed to miss the opportunity to see if indeed they would come back and perhaps flower in the spring. Still, there is always next year….
Growing out of chaos 
I did not know they were edible.
I understand there are different types of evening primrose, which is new to me, so I wouldn’t like to say they all have the same roots.
Thanx Helen – I did not know that either and I/we love parsnips.
If you try them, let me know your experience 😊.