Cowslip Seeds (Primula veris)

Flowering from March to May, cowslip thrives in open meadows, grassy banks, and cottage garden borders. It's a hardy perennial that naturalises beautifully over time, offering year-after-year colour with minimal care.

Key Features:

• Supports local biodiversity and traditional wildflower meadows
• Vital for bees and emerging pollinators in spring
• Low-maintenance perennial that spreads gently over time
• Adds charm and structure to wildflower lawns, verges, and informal plantings

Cowslip (Primula veris) is a charming, low-growing perennial with clusters of golden-yellow, bell-shaped flowers held on slender stems above rosettes of crinkled green leaves. Once common in meadows across the UK, it’s now making a welcome return thanks to wildflower-friendly planting.

Flowering early in the year (typically March to May), cowslip plays a crucial role in supporting pollinators at a time when few other flowers are in bloom. It’s particularly beneficial to bumblebees, solitary bees, and early butterflies.

Cowslip grows best in full sun or light shade, in well-drained soil with low to moderate fertility. It pairs well with other native species like oxeye daisy, meadow buttercup, and knapweed in naturalistic plantings or wildflower lawns. Once established, it forms expanding clumps and may gently self-seed in suitable conditions.

Sow cornflower seeds directly into well-prepared soil in early to mid-spring, once the danger of frost has passed. For a longer display, sow again in late summer or early autumn for early flowering the following year. Seeds germinate in 7–21 days in moist, warm conditions.

Choose an open, sunny location with well-drained soil. Sow thinly for a natural look or more densely for a fuller display. Lightly rake or press seeds into the surface, cornflower prefers not to be buried deeply.

Water during dry spells until established. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage further blooming, but you can also allow some plants to set seed for natural regeneration. Cornflowers grow best in low-fertility soils and need little feeding or attention once settled.

For garden applications direct sow at 1g/m2. For overseeding existing meadow planting or for new sowings on larger areas sow at a maximum of 2g/m2.

Cowslip is perfect for wildflower meadows, native planting schemes, lawns, verges, and orchard floors. It supports early-season pollinators with much-needed nectar and helps recreate habitats for wildlife that depend on traditional meadow plants. It also works well in garden borders where a soft, informal look is desired.

We offer a flat shipping rate of £5.99.

Garden lawn seed, wildflower seeds, and wildflower seed mixtures are typically dispatched within 1 to 3 working days.

Products from our agricultural, landscaping, and equine ranges may be shipped separately as they are mixed to order.

We aim to ensure customer satisfaction with all products supplied. If you experience any issues with your order, please contact us at info@kentseeds.co.uk within 5 working days of the dispatch date, quoting your order number and a detailed description of the issue.

Read our full Delivery & Returns policy here.

Q1: When should I sow cowslip seeds?
A: Best sown in autumn or early spring. Autumn sowing allows natural stratification over winter, improving germination.

Q2: Do cowslips come back every year?
A: Yes, cowslip is a hardy perennial that will flower each spring and can spread naturally over time.

Q3: Can I grow cowslip in a lawn?
A: Yes, they thrive in wildflower lawns if mowing is limited in spring to allow flowering and seed-setting.

Q4: How do I encourage cowslip to spread?
A: Allow flowers to go to seed and avoid heavy mowing or disturbance. They will self-seed in favourable conditions.