MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 6 - Primrose

Oh dear, that nicer weather has been short-lived so far... here's what our Medieval Herb Garden volunteers got up to this week:

10 February 2025

Well, rain again! So nothing productive could be achieved in the MHG today. 

We moved the rhubarb plants from the nursery to the “plant barrow” so that they would be available for sale. 

After that, Carole and Helen retired to the office. Over a hot cup of tea we sorted through the seeds that had been harvested last Autumn. We were checking for any deterioration and to repackage them ready for sowing later on in the year.

Whilst sorting through the motherwort seeds, we found an unexpected visitor. This ladybird had obviously been in hibernation, in the seed store, for over 3 months! 

We left it scurrying around the table until we had finished with the seeds. We then gently placed it on one of the bunches of drying lavender in the back office. Hopefully, it will be happy there.

Our little ladybird friend inside the packet of seeds

Plant of the week - Primrose (primula vulgaris)

The common name primrose derives from a late Latin form prima rosa, consisting of prima, "first" and rosa, "rose".

Primroses are a native, evergreen, herbaceous perennial. They have rosette-forming, tongue-shaped, wrinkled, deeply veined, bright green leaves. The leaves are 5 to 25cm long and 2 to 6cm wide. The pale-yellow flowers are 2 to 4 cm across, and appear between February and April. 

Each plant can grow to a height and spread of around 10cm. Over time, they will create clumps of multiple plants. Primroses prefer full sun or partial shade, on any sheltered site with moist, well-drained soil.

Some of our primroses poking through the mud

Primroses are popular with a range of insects, such as brimstone and small tortoiseshell butterflies, wasps, bees, sawflies, ants and beetles. 

The flowers are often removed from their stalks and scattered on the ground by greenfinches. These birds seem to enjoy eating the plant's ovaries and nectaries.

Culinary uses of primroses

Both the flowers and leaves of a primrose are edible. The leaves have a sweet taste, ranging between mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens. The leaves, which are rich in vitamin C, can be cooked in soup. However, they're best mixed with other plants as they can be a little strong. The leaves can also be used to make a “tea”.  

The sweeter petals were often used to make wines, syrups or vinegars. They were added to salads and desserts or used as cake decorations.

Folklore

In Victorian times, the primrose represented fickleness or inconsistency. This could be due to the short-lived blooms or the tendency of some species to open at different times of the day. Primroses, in general, signify youthfulness, welcome or young love.

According to a Scottish legend, if you want to see a fairy, you must eat a primrose, or rub primrose oil on your eyelids. Some ancient Druids thought that standing in a large swathe of primroses gave you passage to fairyland.

Some farmers used to put primroses in their cowsheds to stop fairies stealing the milk, or braided them into the manes of horses for protection.

Medieval uses*

In the early days of medicine, the primrose was considered an important remedy for muscular rheumatism, paralysis and gout.  The whole plant, and especially the root, was used as a painkiller. It was used to treat various ailments such as headaches and toothaches. Primrose was given for colds. It was also believed to have a calming effect on the nerves and could help induce sleep.

According to John Gerard in 1597:  'Primrose Tea... drunk in the month of May is famous for curing the phrensie.'

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Browse the previous Medieval Herb Garden blogs here