Primula vulgaris. Primrose. Sabhaircín. Plants.

Description

Common name:  Primrose. Sabhaircín.

General:
This population originates from Co Down. Irish Grid reference: J594448.
Perennial, this little beauty needs no introduction.

Benefits:
One of our first flowers to emerge in springtime it greatly helps queen bumble bees who need to visit around 6,000 flowers a day to get their nest established with workers. So the primrose benefits the early or buff-tailed bumble bee.
This species hybridises readily with primula cultivars. By using native-origin seeds and plants you are helping preserve native Irish primroses.

Habitat:
Hedgerows, verges, banks and woodlands.

Planting guidelines:
Prefering a south facing hedgerow primrose can cope with anything other than a north facing slope or hedgerow. Plant out in early spring before the grass gets going. Protect from heavy frosts in their first year, until established.

Cultural history:
The flowers are great in salads, since this is a protected species (schedule 8 of the Wildlife Act NI), just use your own cultivated plants from these plants.