Primula veris Seeds - Cowslip

Primula veris more commonly known as cowslip, also carries the name Common Cowslip or Cowslip Primrose. This botanical species native to our meadows and open woodlands, blooms in April, in small dangling clusters of finely scented, deep yellow tubular flowers. It is found in areas with chalky soils, on slopes, roadsides and in meadows. It is a very undemanding plant that accepts poor, stony soils that dry in summer and that naturalizes easily in the garden. It is a carefree plant, ideal for natural gardens and partially shaded rock gardens. It also finds its place in physic gardens or in brighter, open undergrowth. 

Belonging to the primulaceae family, Primula veris is probably the wild primrose we know best. It is found along roadsides and in woodland edges in many regions of France, but is rarer in the Mediterranean and western parts of France. It can be found from Eastern to Western Europe, but also in Iran, Turkey, and as far as the North-east of Mongolia. The common Cowslip is most noticeable in Spring, in May when its flowers appears because the rest of the year it displays a low-lying, leafy rosette that blends into its environment. This plant develops flower stems measuring 20 to 30 cm in height whose tips bear clusters of delicately scented, deep yellow tubular flowers. The calyces and corollas are fused together, featuring petals with orange markings at their base. This primrose produces two types of flowers, all hermaphrodite. On some plants, the pistil protrudes beyond the seed which prevents self-pollination. Other plants have flowers with stamens that are longer than the pistil. The delay in the maturation of the reproductive organs forces the plant to reproduce by cross-pollination. It is worth noting that the flowers produce a very fragrant nectar, much appreciated by pollinating insects. The semi-evergreen basal rosette is made up of elongated, simple, crinkly, oval leaves of a very fresh light green hue and that are very similar to those of the common primrose. Their upper side is slightly glandular while their under side is fuzzy and greyish.

Primula officinalis is versatile and easy to grow. It deserves to be in every garden. Colourful, abundantly flowering and fragrant, it combines well with all spring blooms. In borders of flowerbeds or in window boxes on a balcony, these plants are ideal companions for tulips and forget-me-nots. It is ideal in borders, low-lying beds under the cover of broad-leaved trees, in rock gardens and in lawns, planted among snowdrops and violets. The leaves and flowers are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Benefits:

These are identical to those of common primrose and oxlip: the flowers are soothing and calming and are used as an expectorant. The leaves are used to help heal bruises and the whole plant (especially the root) has analgesic, antispasmodic, diuretic and expectorant properties.