Cowslip

Did you know

• The name comes from the Old English 'cu-slyppe,' meaning 'cow dung,' because the plant flourished in cow pastures.
• Shakespeare mentions cowslips repeatedly — Ariel in The Tempest sings of sleeping 'in a cowslip's bell.'
• The flowers were traditionally used to make cowslip wine, considered a sedative and mild euphoric.
• It's a vital early-spring nectar source for the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
• Once common in meadows across Europe, it became scarce due to farming changes and is now protected in many regions.

Color meanings

Uses

• wildflower meadows
• herbal medicine
• edible flowers