A common name for many flowers of the genus Primula, family Primulaceae, native mostly to cool or mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the commonly depicted species are Primula vulgaris and its hybrid Primula polyantha, the common primrose, and Primula sieboldii, the Japanese or cherry blossom primrose.
Primrose flowers have five petals, usually with a notch in each petal. Depending on the species, the notch may be shallow or go deep into the petal. The tips are usually rounded. The flowers can be almost any color, and the petals usually change color toward the center, often to a bright yellow or orange. Depending on the species, the leaves may be ovate (egg-shaped), obovate (drop-shaped), or spatulate (spoon-shaped). Some species, such as the common primrose, have very distinctive wrinkled leaves that form a rosette. Many species are low-growing.
The genus is not closely related to roses or to Oenothera (commonly called evening primrose).
