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Primrose

Edible

Spring

Summer

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The flowers of primrose, when found in profusion, make a great addition to salads.

Prima rosa is the Latin for ‘first rose’ and it is usually one of the first flowers of spring.

Hedgerow Type
Common Names	Primrose, Common Primrose, English Primrose
Scientific Name	Primula vulgaris
Season Start	Mar
Season End	Jun

Please note that each and every hedgerow item you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.

Leaves

Dark green, oblong and crinkly.

Flowers

Pale yellow, with five petals. Deeper yellow markings towards the middle. Flowering from February to June.

Flower Stem

Green to red, hairy and with one flower at the end of each stalk.

Habitat

Edges of grassland and woodland, grassy banks and shady places.

Possible Confusion

The Cowslip, pictured, which is edible.
Other primulas, but stick to the yellow flowering varieties and you will be safe.

Smell

Floral.

Taste

The flowers are refreshing and sweet and the young leaves can be used as a green vegetable or in salads.

Frequency

Common.

Collecting

This plant was over used in the past and was less common but it seems to have made a recovery as it is now a common site in the countryside.

Medicinal Uses

Extracts from the roots have been used commercially in cough syrups and used to treat arthritis and rheumatism. The leaves and flowers can also be used as a tea to alleviate anxiety, insomnia and even migranes.

Other Facts

Primroses were traditionally used to dress corpses and for throwing onto graves.

Back to hedgerow guide

COMMENTS

2 comments for Primrose

FranC says:

February 15, 2022 at 6:37 pm

Why are the orange/purple varieties less safe?

Video on youtube says roots are edibe, can anyone confirm? Obviously you destroy the plant but I’m interested for survival purposes.

Thanks for a fantastic website by the way, I have bought your book, which is also excellent (better than the River Cottage one in my opinion, although that is pretty good).

Reply
1. Eric Biggane says:
  
  February 17, 2022 at 10:37 am
  
  A small handful of Primulas are mildly toxic and can cause skin irritation. To stay safe, stick to Primroses and Cowslips. Even these can cause slight contact dermatitis in some people.
  
  The roots of Primroses and Cowslips are said to be edible as a cooked vegetable although I have never tried them.
  
  Reply