Plant Details

Primula veris

Cowslip, Cowslip primrose

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Common names

48 names · 35 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Cowslip[1]
  • Cowslip primrose
Other languages (34)
Dutch
  • Echte sleutelbloem
  • Gewone sleutelbloem
  • Gulden sleutelbloem[1]
French
  • Coucou[1]
  • Primevère officinale[1]
Armenian
  • Գնարբուկ գարնանային[1]
Basque
  • Udaberri lore usainduna[1]
Belarusian
  • Першацвет веснавы[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 黄花九轮草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 黃花九輪草[1]
Croatian
  • Proljetni jaglac[1]
Czech
  • prvosenka jarní[1]
Danish
  • Hulkravet kodriver[1]
Eastern Mari
  • комбойолшудо[1]
  • комбочапа[1]
Estonian
Finnish
  • Kevätesikko[1]
German
  • Echte Schlüsselblume[1]
  • Frühlings-Schlüsselblume[1]
  • Wiesen-Schlüsselblume[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Wiesenschlüsselblume[1]
Greek
  • Πρίμουλα η εαρινή[1]
Hungarian
  • Tavaszi kankalin[1]
Irish
  • Bainne bó bleachtáin[1]
Italian
  • Primula odorosa[1]
Latvian
  • Gaiļbiksīte[1]
Lithuanian
  • Pavasarinė raktažolė[1]
Luxembourgish
  • Guckucksblumm[1]
  • Schlësselblumm[1]
Macedonian
  • Јаглика[1]
Norwegian
  • marianøkleblom[1]
Polish
  • Pierwiosnek lekarski[1]
Romanian
  • Ciuboțica cucului[1]
Russian
  • Первоцвет весенний[1]
  • Первоцвет лекарственный[1]
  • Первоцвет настоящий[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Примула весенняя[1]
Slovak
  • prvosienka jarná[1]
Slovenian
  • pomladanski jeglič[1]
Spanish
  • prímula olorosa[1]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • первоцвіт весняний[1]
Welsh
  • Briallen Fair Sawrus[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Primula veris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Gulden sleutelbloem — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Cowslip — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Gullviva — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Echte Schlüsselblume — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Frühlings-Schlüsselblume — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Wiesen-Schlüsselblume — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Первоцвет весенний — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Первоцвет лекарственный — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Первоцвет настоящий — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Примула весенняя — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Першацвет веснавы — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primevère officinale — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Coucou — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Kevätesikko — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Cucut — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Schlësselblumm — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Pierwiosnek lekarski — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • prvosenka jarní — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Πρίμουλα η εαρινή — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • marianøkleblom — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Hulkravet kodriver — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • prímula olorosa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Proljetni jaglac — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Gaiļbiksīte — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Pavasarinė raktažolė — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Tavaszi kankalin — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Wiesenschlüsselblume — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • nurmenukk — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • prvosienka jarná — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • 黄花九轮草 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Guckucksblumm — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Ciuboțica cucului — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • первоцвіт весняний — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • 黃花九輪草 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • pomladanski jeglič — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Գնարբուկ գարնանային — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Јаглика — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • комбочапа — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • комбойолшудо — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primula odorosa — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Bainne bó bleachtáin — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Prímula vera — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Briallen Fair Sawrus — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Udaberri lore usainduna — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Tutya — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.

General information

Scientific name: Primula veris
Accepted name (Kew): Primula veris L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Primulaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Primula (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Cowslip, Cowslip primrose
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.30 m
Spread: 0.20 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

Young leaves of this plant can be eaten raw or cooked in soups and other dishes. Although they are not very tasty, they are available in late winter, which somewhat increases their value. The fresh or dried leaves are often used as a substitute for tea. The flowers can be eaten raw, cooked, or added to preserves and can serve as a garnish. They make a beautiful addition to salads. This plant species has become significantly less common over the past century due to habitat destruction, excessive foraging, and agricultural practices. In the past, the flowers were harvested in large quantities in the spring when they were more abundant. They were used to make a tasty wine with calming properties. A related species, Primula elatior, is listed by the Council of Europe as a natural food flavoring.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/04
Harvest ends: 15/05

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 312270; name ID 2564986; Primula L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 311928; name ID 2563733; Primula veris L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Primula veris

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1022849, ID 4MDK3: Primula veris L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Primula veris — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: FoliageLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .