primrose

Any flowering plant of the genus , one of 28 genera of the family Primulaceae. includes 490–600 species, which occur chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere in cool or mountainous regions. The plants are low-growing, usually perennial herbs; a few are biennials. Most species grow 25–50 cm (10–20 inches) tall, but some are as short as 5 cm and others as tall as 120 cm. Many species are cultivated for their attractive, five-petaled flowers, which may be red, pink, purple, blue, white, or yellow. Pimpernels are also in the primrose family. The evening primrose (family Onagraceae) is not a true primrose.

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