WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread but scattered throughout the UK. Occurs where the two parents meet. Habitat includes: Hedge banks, woodland, scrub, grassland, roadside verges, railway banks, wasteland etc.

Stace 4:

Primula vulgaris x Primula veris = P. x polyantha Mill. (P. x tommasinii Gren. & Godr., P. x variabilis Goupil non Bastard)

Occurs sporadically where the parents meet over the range of P. veris, often in scrubby areas. It is intermediate in leaf, flower and hair characters; the flowers are normally born in an umbel on a scape. It is partially fertile but backcrossing and introgression are rare. The garden Polyanthus is probably of this origin, and occasionally this escapes from cultivation or persists where planted; such plants may vary considerably in flower colour, from white to orange, purple or mauve. This hybrid, P. elatior, and plants of P. vulgaris with a scape are often confused; careful attention to leaves, flowers and hairiness is needed to avoid this.