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Common Name: Primrose

General Information

Primula vulgaris 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, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Western Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.

Habitat

Woods and hedgerows on acid and calcareous soils[, ]. Also found in the open on north-facing slopes in south-western England[].

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[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[].
A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[].
The blooms have a characteristic fragrance of a mossy bank or a deciduous woodland[].
This species hybridizes readily with P. elatior[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb, added to soups etc[, , ]. A mild flavour, though the texture is a bit tough[]. The leaves are often available all through the winter[].
Flowers - raw or cooked. They make an attractive garnish to salads[, , , ], and can also be used as a cooked vegetable or in conserves etc[, ]. Picked when first opened, the flowers are fermented with water and sugar to make a very pleasant and intoxicating wine[].
Both the flowers and the leaves can be made into a syrup or a tea[].

Medicinal

Primroses have a very long history of medicinal use and has been particularly employed in treating conditions involving spasms, cramps, paralysis and rheumatic pains[]. They are, however, considered to be less effective than the related P. veris[]. The plant contains saponins, which have an expectorant effect, and salicylates which are the main ingredient of aspirin and have anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge effects[]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women, patients who are sensitive to aspirin, or those taking anti-coagulant drugs such as warfarin[].
The roots and the flowering herb are anodyne, antispasmodic, astringent, emetic, sedative and vermifuge[]. An infusion of the roots is a good remedy against nervous headaches[]. The roots are harvested in the autumn when two or three years old and dried for later use[].
An ointment has been made from the plant and used for treating skin wounds[].

Other Uses

Makes a good carpet in open woodland and on woodland edges[, ]. Plants are best spaced about 35cm apart each way[].

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[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in autumn. This is best done every other year[].