Oxlip
Primula elatior
Family: Primulaceae
What it is like
Primula elatior is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Woods and meadows on chalky boulder clay.
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to the Alps and S. Russia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Young leaves - raw or cooked in soups etc. They have a mild flavour and are available in late winter.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The root is diuretic and expectorant. It is used in the treatment of coughs, flu and other febrile conditions, insomnia and migraine. The root can be harvested in the spring or autumn and is dried for later use.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Miscellany: Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
Other
Rating:
Miscellany: A rag-bag of items that are difficult to categorise.
How it is grown
Prefers a medium to heavy moisture retentive humus rich loam in a cool position with light to medium shade, though it succeeds in heavier shade. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in chalky soils. A very ornamental plant, there are a number of subspecies. The subspecies P. elatior meyeri is a parent of the P. x pruhonicensis group of ornamental hybrids. This species hybridizes readily with P. vulgaris.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Germination is inhibited by temperatures above 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in the summer. Division in autumn. This is best done every other year.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 3-7
Growth:
Soil: Medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade
Moisture: Moist