Sabhaircín
Latin name: Primula vulgaris
As with the daffodil and bluebell, the primrose is early to flower. Did you know that the primrose produces two types of flower on each plant? The pollen from one type needs to be transferred to the second type of flower in order to be pollinated and produce seeds.
Insects are needed to help in the pollination process. The pollen sticks to their bodies as they move between flowers, transferring it from one to the other. When the primroses are pollinated, they produce sticky seeds. The food stored inside these seeds attracts ants. They help to spread the seeds by carrying them away from the flower.
Primrose
Copyright Mike Brown
Primrose
Copyright Mike Brown
Copyright Mike Brown
Primrose
Copyright Mike Brown
The crinkly green leaves of the primrose flower are thick and hardy. The colour of the flower can vary between cream, yellow, red, purple and pink. Some people have suggested that the colour of the primrose depends on the amount of sunshine it gets, because the further south towards the equator the flowers grow, the deeper, more intense the colours become.
Unfortunately, primroses are not as common as they used to be. They have suffered a lot from over-picking, so if you see primroses when you’re out, admire them in their natural surroundings and avoid picking them!
Evening primrose
Copyright John Kennedy
Evening primrose
Copyright John Kennedy
Copyright John Kennedy
Evening primrose
Copyright John Kennedy
One variety of primrose that is used as a herbal remedy is the evening primrose. This is used to make evening primrose oil. Some people take it to help relieve very itchy, dry skin, and it is also believed to help people that suffer from asthma or arthritis.
The evening primrose grows in Ireland, but is not a native flower. It is native to North and South America.
Have you ever heard that primroses protect against the faeries?
Long ago in Ireland, people used to hang a string of primroses over the door at the start of May. It was said that the primroses would protect the house as the faeries were not able to pass them.