False Oxlip

We have a strange western outlier population of the true Oxlip, Primula elatior, near to the nature reserve, on the Hertfordshire boundary. However, this is one of the many False Oxlips we get every year at the reserve. These are hybrids between Primrose and Cowslip and they are usually strongly coloured, large, robust plants - demonstrating classic hybrid vigour. We used to get quite a few dug up and transfered to people's gardens, but thankfully this practice seems to have stopped now with the widespread availability of similar plants in garden centres.