A warm welcome to regular Flower of the Month contributor, Susan Ernst.
Primrose – Primula
species
Now
the bright morning star, day’s harbinger
Comes
dancing from the East, and leads with her
The
flowering May, who from her green lap throws
The
yellow Cowslip and the pale Primrose.
-from Song of May Morning by
Milton
Primrose,
first-born child of Ver
Merry
spring-time’s harbinger,
With
her bells dim.
-from Two Noble Kinsmen by Shakespeare
Primula
as a genus or plant group, has over 500 species and are classified and arranged
into various groups. Information on these classifications can be found starting
here. We will take a look at those most common and
familiar.
The
English Primrose, Primula vulgaris
(Latin for “first one” and “abundant or common”, respectively), has been the
quintessential harbinger of spring in Britain, as evidenced in the writings of
Milton, Shakespeare and numerous other writers of the 17th, 18th
and 19th centuries.
Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), famous British landscape designer wrote:
Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), famous British landscape designer wrote:
“More
than half a century has passed, and yet each spring, when I wander into the
primrose wood and see the pale yellow blooms, and smell their sweetest of
scents, . . . for a moment I am seven years old again and wandering in the
fragrant wood.”
Forbes
Watson, 19th century garden writer wrote:
“It is the very flower of delicacy and
refinement; not that it shrinks from our notice, for few plants are more easily
seen, coming as it does when there is a dearth of flowers, when the first birds
are singing, and the first bees humming, and the earliest green putting forth
in the March and April woods; and it is one of those plants which dislikes to
be looking cheerless, but keeps up a smouldering fire of blossom from the very
opening of the year, if the weather will permit.”
The
leaves of this plant, and all Primulas, grow in a basal rosette, meaning a
cluster of leaves growing in a circle which remain close to the ground. The
leaves are a light, fresh “spring green” color and are crinkled. The fragrant,
pale yellow flowers rise singly on long stems. Purple and blue variations can
sometimes be found growing wild.
As
a flower of early spring, it is not surprising that in the Victorian Language
of Flowers, primroses represented early youth and young love. It was said that
if a young woman were to come across a primrose before Easter, while out in the
fields, she would be married that year. In Catholic symbolism the primrose is a
flower of mercy and compassion. If a sinner passed one by, the primrose would
assist him and save his soul.
The
Cowslip, Primula veris (Latin for
“first of spring”), also mentioned by Shakespeare, bears clusters of small
yellow blossoms held on a central stem above the rosette of crinkly bright
green leaves.
The
flower clusters resembled a bunch of golden keys and were once believed to
point the way to hidden treasure and open the locks of castles. Another common
name for this plant was Paigles, which was an old Anglo-Saxon term referring to
St. Peter, who held the keys to the Kingdom of God. Himmelschusslechen is the
German term for this plant and means “little keys to heaven.”
The primrose (including cowslip) was used medicinally through the centuries to treat several ailments, including as a sedative and to “strengthen the nerves.” It was used as a tonic for the complexion. In the kitchen, wine has been made from the flowers. Flowers are also candied and used to decorate cakes. The flowers may be brewed into a tea or can be eaten fresh with cream. The leaves are added fresh to salads or boiled as a potherb.
The primrose (including cowslip) was used medicinally through the centuries to treat several ailments, including as a sedative and to “strengthen the nerves.” It was used as a tonic for the complexion. In the kitchen, wine has been made from the flowers. Flowers are also candied and used to decorate cakes. The flowers may be brewed into a tea or can be eaten fresh with cream. The leaves are added fresh to salads or boiled as a potherb.
Popular
Primrose species cultivated as garden flowers are:
P. polyanthus – brightly colored flowers of pinks,
blues, red, white and golds with a yellow center. These are the primroses most
often seen in the United States.
P. auricula – available in many colors with a
contrasting center. The leaves are evergreen. This variety was very popular
during the Victorian era.
P. japonica – this variety produces very tall stems holding large
clusters of white, pink, crimson and purple flowers.
P. malacoides – Fairy Primrose – grown as an
annual or potted plant, the small flowers in clusters on tall stems are
available in pastel shades of pink, lavender and white.
Article
written by Susan Ernst, Stratford, Connecticut, USA
