Pollinator plant

Cowslip

Primula veris

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

49 names · 35 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (34)
Dutch
  • Echte sleutelbloem
  • Gewone sleutelbloem
  • Gulden sleutelbloem[1][2]
French
Armenian
  • Գնարբուկ գարնանային[2]
Basque
  • Udaberri lore usainduna[2]
Belarusian
  • Першацвет веснавы[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 黄花九轮草[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 黃花九輪草[2]
Croatian
  • Proljetni jaglac[2]
Czech
  • prvosenka jarní[2]
Danish
  • Hulkravet kodriver[2]
Eastern Mari
  • комбойолшудо[2]
  • комбочапа[2]
Estonian
Finnish
  • Kevätesikko[2]
German
  • Echte Schlüsselblume[1][2]
  • Frühlings-Schlüsselblume[1][2]
  • Wiesen-Schlüsselblume[1][2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Greek
  • Πρίμουλα η εαρινή[2]
Hungarian
  • Tavaszi kankalin[2]
Irish
  • Bainne bó bleachtáin[2]
Italian
Latvian
  • Gaiļbiksīte[2]
Lithuanian
  • Pavasarinė raktažolė[2]
Luxembourgish
  • Guckucksblumm[2]
  • Schlësselblumm[2]
Macedonian
  • Јаглика[2]
Norwegian
  • marianøkleblom[2]
Polish
  • Pierwiosnek lekarski[2]
Romanian
  • Ciuboțica cucului[2]
Russian
  • Первоцвет весенний[2]
  • Первоцвет лекарственный[2]
  • Первоцвет настоящий[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Примула весенняя[2]
Slovak
  • prvosienka jarná[2]
Slovenian
  • pomladanski jeglič[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • первоцвіт весняний[2]
Welsh
  • Briallen Fair Sawrus[2]
Sources & name notes (5)

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Cowslip — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Gulden sleutelbloem — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Coucou — results[0].names[14]; 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.
  • Wiesenschlüsselblume — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • prímula olorosa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primevère officinale — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primula odorosa — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
[2] Primula veris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Cowslip — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Gulden sleutelbloem — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Coucou — results[0].names[14]; 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.
  • Wiesenschlüsselblume — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • prímula olorosa — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primevère officinale — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Primula odorosa — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 55819; Primula veris.
  • Gullviva — results[0].names[3]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
[3] Primula veris — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Cowslip Primrose — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Primula veris.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common cowslip — Page 1, column 2, row top 682 pt; common-name cell after Primula veris.; Primula veris.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common cowslip — Page 2, column 2, row top 172 pt; common-name cell after Primula veris.; Primula veris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Primula veris is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Primulaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe and Algeria

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Primula veris in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.30 m high × 0.20 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Tea
Functions
Fragrant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Primula veris — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1022849; ID 4MDK3; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1022849; ID 4MDK3; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Primula veris — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Life cycleFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil pHFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 1, column 2, entry Primula veris (top 682 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Primula veris (top 172 pt)

    Source checked on .