Description

Primula veris – Cowslip description

Rich gold flowers with an orange eye held high above mid green leafy clumps in early to late spring.

A pollinator friendly plant including bees.
This is a butterfly friendly plant.
A bat friendly plant.
Good for wildlife in general.

How easy is it to grow:
Good for the front or middle of a damp border, or by a pond and it is easy in most soils, including heavy or clay soils, provided there is enough moisture and that there are no Vine Weevil in your garden (see ‘Care and maintenance’ below).

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Other common names: (to name just a few!) Common Cowslip, Bedlam Cowslip, Fairy Cup, Herb Peter, Key Flower, Keywort, Lady’s Keys, Lady’s Bunch of Keys, Lady’s Candlestick, Petty Mullein, Primerole, Primet and St Peter’s Wort.

Synonyms for Primula veris: Primula macrocalyx and Primula montana.

Originates from Europe and West Asia.

The best position in the garden:

Sun, semi shade or shade.

Is it useful as a ground cover plant?

Yes, it will fill a small gap at the front of a flower border.

What type of soil:

Any reasonable soil. Tolerates clay soil.

How much moisture:

Moist, normal.

Hardiness and, or, lifespan:

Hardy.

Care and maintenance:

When newly planted always keep it watered until the roots have grown down and it is able to find its own moisture.
It is susceptible to Vine Weevil which lay their eggs by the plant and these develop into white, banana shaped grubs that chomp the roots. Biological control is pretty good at controlling it.

Size of plant:

Height 35 cm.
Spread 30 cm.

Planting density – to calculate how many plants are required in a planting scheme:

Allow 16 plants per square metre.