The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name: Oxlip

General Information

Primula elatior is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to the Alps and S. Russia.

Habitat

Woods and meadows on chalky boulder clay[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a medium to heavy moisture retentive humus rich loam in a cool position with light to medium shade[], though it succeeds in heavier shade[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in chalky soils[].
A very ornamental plant[], there are a number of subspecies[]. The subspecies P. elatior meyeri is a parent of the P. x pruhonicensis group of ornamental hybrids[].
This species hybridizes readily with P. vulgaris[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked in soups etc[]. They have a mild flavour and are available in late winter[].

Medicinal

The root is diuretic and expectorant[, ]. It is used in the treatment of coughs, flu and other febrile conditions, insomnia and migraine[, ]. The root can be harvested in the spring or autumn and is dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame[]. Germination is inhibited by temperatures above 20°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in the summer.
Division in autumn. This is best done every other year[].