The native, evergreen Primula vulgaris is always a welcome sight in early spring; pale yellow flowers gently brightening the floors of woodlands as they emerge from winter. It is also a valuable plant to encourage in the garden. Make sure you stick to this native species, rather than the hybrid primulas and polyanthus you often find in garden centres, which are completely useless for wildlife. By contrast, the lemon yellow blooms of P. vulgaris are visited by bee-flies in spring (I have yet to see my first this year) and the leaves are eaten by different species of moth caterpillar - remember, there is no place for perfect, untouched leaves in a wildlife garden! The leaves are also the food plant for the caterpillar of the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
Although the wild population remains stable in the UK, according to Plantlife, it has declined here in East Anglia due to a series of hot and dry summers since the 1970s, possibly linked to climate change. Primroses prefer moist areas, so keep them well watered if you do decide to add these beautiful plants to your garden.
References:
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/primrose accessed 26/03/20
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/primrose accessed 26/03/20
Thomas, A. (2017) Gardening for Wildlife, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
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