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Get the iPhone app Scan on the webCowslip
Primula veris
Also called Common Cowslip, Cowslip Primrose, Key Flower
About Cowslip
Cowslip is a classic European woodland and meadow perennial. It sends up clusters of fragrant, nodding yellow flowers in spring. Bees and early butterflies love the nectar-rich blooms.
- Type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 8–12 in
- Spread
- 8–10 in
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate; keep moist in spring
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained, slightly alkaline to neutral loam
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to -20 °F
- Flowers
- April to May
- Growth
- Clump-forming rosette
- Toxicity
- Not known to be toxic, but leaf hairs can irritate sensitive skin
- Native to
- Europe and western Asia
How to recognise it
- Clusters of nodding, deep yellow flowers on upright stalks
- Pale green, inflated, baggy calyces holding each bloom
- Rosettes of crinkly, textured oval green leaves
- Delicate, sweet apricot-like fragrance
Caring for Cowslip
Watering
Every 5 days- How often
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- How much
- Soak until the root zone is moist
- When
- Morning
- Tips
- Irish autumn rain often provides enough water, so check the soil first.
Feeding
- How often
- Feed once in early spring
- What to use
- Organic compost or balanced slow-release feed
- When
- Early spring as new leaves sprout
- How
- Top-dress around the base without smothering the crown
Pruning
- When
- Late spring and autumn
- How
- Snip off spent flower stems at the base and remove tatty outer leaves
- Tips
- Leave a few seed heads if you want the plant to spread naturally.
Jobs it will ask for
- Tidy yellowing lower leaves Snip off any old, damaged leaves around the base to keep airflow good.
- Mulch the root zone Spread a 1-inch layer of well-rotted compost around the plant before winter sets in.
Through the year
Spring
Water during dry spells and enjoy the fragrant yellow blooms.
Summer
Keep the soil evenly moist during hot spells; leaves may die back if too dry.
Autumn
Tidy fallen leaves and mulch the root zone with garden compost.
Winter
The plant rests completely underground or as a tiny rosette; no special winter cover needed.
What to watch for
- Slugs and snails chewing holes in spring leaves
- Handpick them in the evening or use organic wool pellets around crowns.
- Crown rot in waterlogged winter soil
- Ensure planting beds have free drainage and avoid overwatering.
Reference photos
Compare what's in your garden with confirmed photos of Cowslip.
Photos from iNaturalist contributors.
Written by Garden Rescue from photo identifications, in US units. Local advice from your extension service or garden centre beats a general guide.