Leaf
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cowslip
Primula veris L.
Family: Primulaceae
10 to 25 cm tall
Meadows, gardens, woodland edges, ordinary soils
Flowering: March – May
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its early flowering makes it one of the first flowers heralding spring, hence its nickname 'cuckoo flower'. The cowslip bears several deep yellow flowers grouped in an umbel at the top of a single flowering stem, whereas the primrose bears its pale yellow flowers singly, each on its own flower stalk rising from the leaf rosette.
🍃 Leaves
In a basal rosette, ovate, crinkled, bright green
🌸 Flowers
Small bright yellow bells in a drooping umbel, fragrant
🍎 Fruits
Small ovoid capsules
🪵 Bark
Compact basal clump, single erect flowering stem
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, temperate Asia; common in calcareous meadows and open woods in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Early yellow flowers with a long nectar-bearing tube, suited to long-tongued butterflies and bumblebees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Wildflower meadows, shaded beds, borders; fragrant spring flowering.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable known toxicity; may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
⚠️ Look-alike species
Cowslip
Primula veris
Primrose
Primula vulgaris
The cowslip bears several deep yellow flowers grouped in an umbel at the top of a single flowering stem, whereas the primrose bears its pale yellow flowers singly, each on its own flower stalk rising from the leaf rosette.
🌿 Other Primulaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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