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Cowslip Primrose

Primula veris (PRIM-yew-lah VER-iss)

Family: Primulaceae Non-native Herbaceous

Cowslip primrose is considered the best primrose for southern gardens because it is more tolerant of heat and humidity than other types of primroses. It looks beautiful lining a shady path, where the multitude of yellow, tubular flowers glow against the soft, green, fuzzy leaves. Propagation: Division spring, seed sown in May for flowers next spring More information on Primula .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 31 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf feel
Soft
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Soft, green, and fuzzy.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
Many yellow, tubular flowers.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe and Algeria
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Walkways
Landscape theme
Shade Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#border planting #humidity tolerant #heat tolerant #spring interest #partial shade tolerant #perennial #walkway #contact dermatitis #th-wildlife #th-smell #th-sowing
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Heat; Humidity
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.