Cowslip

Primula veris

Native meadow perennial with clusters of nodding deep yellow flowers held above a rosette of leaves. Once common in chalk and limestone grassland.

Hardiness ratings

Cowslip hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −40 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −34 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Larval food plant for the duke of burgundy butterfly
  • Flowers in April and May — a signature spring wildflower of unimproved chalk grassland
  • Edible flowers traditionally used to make cowslip wine
  • Mildly sedative herb in traditional use
  • Always consult a qualified medical or herbal practitioner before using any plant medicinally

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Cowslip against your zones

Reference

Cowslip on Wikipedia