Primula veris 'Cowslip'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Primulaceae: Small downy perennial, to 25cm, fragrant bell-shaped, shaped, orange flowers, 1-sided umbels of 10-30 flowers, each 8-15mm across, blooming from April-May, tapering, wrinkled, hairy, forming a basal rosette. Found growing on dry, unimproved grassland, often on calcareous soils, widespread and locally common, except in Scotland.

USES:

The young leaves can be used either raw or cooked in soups etc., they are not very tasty, but are available in late winter which adds somewhat to their value, This species has become much less common in the past 100 years due to habitat destruction, over-collecting from the wild and farming practices. When it was more abundant, the flowers were harvested in quantity in the spring and used to make a tasty wine with sedative and nervine properties. Cowslips are an underused but valuable medicinal herb, they have a very long history of medicinal use and have been particularly employed in treating conditions involving spasms, cramps, and paralysis and rheumatic pains.

GROWING INFORMATION:

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 and on chalk, will thrive if given full sun and a well-drained alkaline soil. Cowslip seed needs a period of chilling to break dormancy - it therefore needs to be sown in late summer or autumn. Germination will take place the following spring.

HARVESTED: 2022*

 
APPROX. 200+ SEEDS