I agree with other gardeners (with our sort of climate) who say that cowslips are perhaps the hardiest of the various Primula in the gar...Read Moreden. As stated below, clumps (even without division) can be surprisingly long lived.
Also as mentioned below, I'm not aware of our cowslips seeding in the garden.
Fresh seed appears to be important. One batch of seed kept refrigerated for several months did virtually nothing. A second batch planted ...Read Morestraightaway gave about 50% germination within 45 days.
Young potted plants have fared well in this hot southern summer when given a mix of peat and perlite, adequate moisture, and a location with morning sun. Plants are tolerant of ample sunlight and drier conditions once established.
I was surprised and delighted to find that two cowslips I planted over a decade ago have prospered here in Boston Z6a with little care. T...Read Morehey're very showy in bloom. They bloom well, and haven't suffered too badly from the slugs.
They're in dappled shade all day. The soil is a heavy acid silty urban mess, in a raised bed, with some organic amendment, and only watered sporadically during droughts. Though the books recommend frequent division, I have yet to divide either clump after 12 years.
I've never seen a self-sown seedling, but I don't know if that's due to site conditions/climate or to having two plants that can't cross-pollinate.
I was surprised by how well these have done, despite my negligence. They aren't often grown around here.
I received a clump of this Cowslip Primrose from a gardening friend who lives 90 minutes away. She grows her patch in Lancaster County, ...Read MorePA. I think of her fondly each time I see it.
The brilliant red-orange color is dramatic in spring. The foliage is bright green and crinkly, rather dense, under 8" tall. Height is similar to my patch of Primula japonica, 12 - 15" when in bloom.
I divided the P.veris patch immediately after blooming and it pouted awhile in its natural summer dormancy but regained strength. None died. Now I have two robust patches, each one located in half sun. The clue for ID is the very long and dominant calyx, the tube holding the blossom.
Harpersfield, OH (Zone 5a) | April 2010 | positive
Bluestone Nursery sold this to me under the name "Cabrillo". It looks just like this and is a Primula. It is wonderful and so cute. It...Read More came up right away in early spring and started blooming last week. The blooms are really opening up now and growing taller each day. They are around 6" tall now. They look real healthy. I couldn't find anything on them under the name "Cabrillo", but when I searched the titsy-tosty sites, I saw this and it looks just like mine. I'll have to take a picture and figure out how to post it.
I live in a very cold, windy site and had tons of snow this winter and it did great.
Has deep green, wrinkled leaves with toothed or scalloped edges and a pale mid rib. Bears slightly pendant,...Read More brick red to orange flowers slightly larger than the normal P. veris.
Can be found flowering in spring to early summer.
Likes a well drained, moist, fertile soil in full sun or light shade. Will self sow where happy but will also cross with practically every other Primula species in the vicinity so collected seed may not always come true, but you might just have some interesting seedlings pop up.
These are believed to be garden hybrids of P. veris with Polyanthus and/or Primrose types of Primula as they aren't found in the wild.
Has slightly hairy rosettes of oblong-ovate, scalloped or toothed, mid green,...Read More wrinkled leaves. Bears drooping, yellow sometimes with orange spots at the base of the lobes, scented, funnel shaped flowers on one side of the flower stem and a light green conspicuous calyx.
The flower colour can vary from light yellow to deep red in cultivated forms.
Flowers April-July.
Likes a well drained, moist, fertile, lime soil in full sun or light shade.
Superb woodland or wild garden plant and will reward you with many seedlings if happy.
Can irritate sensitive skin.
Children used to suck the nectar from the flowers and the scent is a little like cow's breath (which smells sweet if you were feeling ill at the thought!). This isn't where its most used common name comes from though, its from the Old English Cu-slyppe because they thought it was more abundant in meadows with a lot of cow slops.
Once used as a medicinal (please don't try it) for nervous complaints and palsy (another common name is Palsywort) and in a cosmetic water (see irritation note).
I agree with other gardeners (with our sort of climate) who say that cowslips are perhaps the hardiest of the various Primula in the gar...Read More
Fresh seed appears to be important. One batch of seed kept refrigerated for several months did virtually nothing. A second batch planted ...Read More
I was surprised and delighted to find that two cowslips I planted over a decade ago have prospered here in Boston Z6a with little care. T...Read More
I received a clump of this Cowslip Primrose from a gardening friend who lives 90 minutes away. She grows her patch in Lancaster County, ...Read More
Bluestone Nursery sold this to me under the name "Cabrillo". It looks just like this and is a Primula. It is wonderful and so cute. It...Read More
Garden origin.
Has deep green, wrinkled leaves with toothed or scalloped edges and a pale mid rib. Bears slightly pendant,...Read More
A variable, evergreen perennial from Europe.
Has slightly hairy rosettes of oblong-ovate, scalloped or toothed, mid green,...Read More