Primula is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose, a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are P. auricula (auricula), P. veris (cowslip), and P. elatior (oxlip). These species and many others are valued for their ornamental flowers. They have been extensively cultivated and hybridised. Primula are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, and in temperate southern South America. Almost half of the known species are from the Himalayas.
The Primulaceae, commonly known as the primrose family, are a family of herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden plants and wildflowers. Most are perennial though some species, such as scarlet pimpernel, are annuals.
Primula veris, the cowslip, common cowslip, or cowslip primrose, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. The species is native throughout most of temperate Europe and western Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of northwest Scotland, it reappears in northernmost Sutherland and Orkney and in Scandinavia. This species frequently hybridizes with other Primulas such as the common primrose Primula vulgaris to form false oxlip which is often confused with true oxlip, a much rarer plant.
Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and parts of southwest Asia. The common name is primrose, or occasionally common primrose or English primrose to distinguish it from other Primula species also called primroses. None of these are closely related to the evening primroses.
Primula meadia, the shooting star or eastern shooting star, is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. It is native to the eastern United States and Canada, spanning north from Manitoba and New York, south to Texas and Florida.
Primula latiloba, synonyms Dodecatheon dentatum and Dodecatheon latilobum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, known by the common names white shooting star and toothed American cowslip.
Primula japonica, the Japanese primrose, Japanese cowslip, Queen of primroses, or valley red, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to Japan. The common name Japanese primrose also applies to the related species Primula sieboldii.
Primula pulverulenta, the mealy primrose or mealy cowslip, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to damp habitats in China. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to 100 cm (39 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) broad, with strong stems of deep pink flowers arising from basal rosettes of leaves in early summer. The flowers are grouped at intervals along the stem in a tiered formation, hence the common name "candelabra primula" which is often applied to this and other species with a similar arrangement.
Primula prolifera, the candelabra primrose or glory of the bog, is a flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. Its botanical name is currently unresolved.
Androsace vitaliana is a species of plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It was previously known by the synonym Vitaliana primuliflora. Native to the high mountains of Europe, it is cultivated as an alpine garden plant, being considered easy to grow in well drained soil in a sunny position.
Androsace laevigata, synonym Douglasia laevigata, known as the cliff dwarf primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It is native to the central Pacific coastal mountains of North America below 2,400 metres (8,000 ft) elevation. Its habitat includes cliffs, rocks, and alpine.
Androsace americana, synonym Douglasia arctica, known as the Mackenzie River dwarf primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae. It is native to subarctic North America.
Primula malacoides, called the fairy primrose or baby primrose, is a perennial species of Primula native to the Himalayas, Assam in India, Myanmar, and south-central and south east China. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Primula chionantha, the snow-white primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan in China. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Primula kisoana, the hardy primrose or Mount Kiso primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to Honshu and Shikoku islands of Japan. Hardy to USDA zone 4, it does well in partly shady situations under trees and along paths. A number of cultivars with flowers of different shades of pink are available.
Primula × polyantha, the polyanthus primrose or false oxlip, is a naturally occurring hybrid species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae. It is the result of crosses between Primula veris and Primula vulgaris. It is native to Europe, found where the parent species' ranges overlap, and many artificial hybrid cultivars have also been created for the garden trade. Naturally‑occurring individuals tend to have yellow flowers, while a wide range of flower colors has been developed in the cultivars over the centuries.
Primula glutinosa, also known as the sticky primrose, is a species of flowering plant within the family Primulaceae.
Primula borealis, also known as the Northern primrose or slender primrose, is a species of flowering plant within the genus Primula and family Primulaceae. The species is a halophyte, inhabiting coastal saline habitats within subalpine and subarctic regions.
Primula wulfeniana, also known as Wulfen's primrose, is a species of flowering plant within the genus Primula and family Primulaceae.
Primula clusiana is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae, native to the northeastern Alps; Germany and Austria. A perennial, it is occasionally available from commercial suppliers.
On a Soviet postage stamp
On a West Berlin postage stamp
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