Primula eliator Veristar Yellow Gold - Oxlip

The Primula eliator F1 'Veristar Yellow Gold' is a sturdy, robust and particularly floriferous primrose that is very hardy and blooms in spring. The plant produces flower spikes, each carrying 10 to 30 flowers of a bright golden yellow, perfectly complemented by dark green foliage. It is very beautiful in borders and also makes an ideal perennial or biennial plant for ornamental containers. It should be planted in a sunny but not scorching position, in soil enriched with compost, fertile and moist.

The Primula eliator, also known as the Oxlip or Woods Primrose, is a herbaceous perennial plant that is native to Europe's flora and is most commonly found in semi-shaded clearings or at the edge of forests. When abundant, this species, sometimes called the cuckoo flower, is an indicator of old forests that have been little disturbed by human activity.

Through hybridization with the Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris), this plant has given rise to many short-lived perennial hybrids, often grown as biennial plants. This 'Veristar Yellow Gold' primrose blooms in April-May, depending on the climate, for several weeks. On each plant, multiple flower spikes, 25 cm (10in) in height, carry numerous single flowers that are slightly fragrant and have rounded petals, a beautiful golden yellow colour with an orange centre. Their warm colour is well highlighted by evergreen rosettes of large, deeply wrinkled dark green leaves, which are ornamental even when not in bloom.

Eliator primroses are less well-known than stemless primroses, but they have their own advantages: they are taller, hardier, more perennial and their flowering is also more spectacular. They are excellent companions for shade-loving perennials and plants that thrive in cool, semi-shaded woodland areas, such as heucheras, Brunnera, forget-me-nots, horned violets, and hostas. They can also be used to decorate terraces, windowsills, or balconies, planted in containers that will brighten up spring scenes. They also look great in a simple bouquet, mixed with forget-me-nots or early tulips.