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Cowslip

Primula veris

Not yet photographed by the community

Nodding yellow flowers; meadows; spring pollinator magnet.

Species Profile

Amber List (declining due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification)

Lifespan: 3–5 years, typically biennial or short-lived perennial
Size & Weight: 10–30 cm tall; flowers 12–15 mm diameter
Habitat: Grassland, meadows, woodland edges, and hedgerows on well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soils.
UK Distribution: Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; more frequent in southern and central regions; absent from northern Scotland.
Diet: Photosynthesises to produce its own food; pollinated by insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, and butterflies.
Predators: Slugs, snails, and herbivorous insects feed on leaves; seed predation by insects and small mammals.
Mating Season: April to May (flowering period)
Breeding: Produces numerous small seeds (200–300 per capsule) dispersed by wind and water; self-fertile but benefits from cross-pollination.
Behaviour: Cowslips are entomophilous flowers with heteromorphic flowers (pin and thrum forms) that promote cross-pollination. They thrive in traditionally managed grasslands and are a key early-season nectar source for pollinators.

Did You Know?

•The name 'cowslip' derives from 'cow slop' or 'cow dung', as the plant historically flourished in pastures grazed by cattle
•Cowslips have two flower forms (pin and thrum) with different anther and stigma positions, an adaptation that encourages cross-pollination
•Historically used to make cowslip wine and used in traditional herbal medicine for insomnia and anxiety
•A single plant can produce up to 300 seeds, but seedling survival is low in competitive grasslands
•Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; it is illegal to pick cowslips on protected land without permission

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