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A wide variety of plants growing in the Medieval Herb Garden on a sunny day

Medieval herb garden blog 62: Oxlip

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Week 61 volunteer update

After suffering delays due to the weather, the rhubarb finally went on sale today!

The sales barrow is now fully stocked. We've got large pink aquilegias, primroses, violets, lungwort, peach and pink roses, woad and three trays of assorted medieval herbs for sale.

A large barrow with a banner reading 'castle herbs' at the top, fully stocked with a variety of plant cuttings for sale

The fully stocked castle herbs sales barrow at Pontefract Castle

This seems like a good time to ask our locally-based readers for their help. Does anyone have any clean, 5 litres (or larger) plant pots that they no longer need? We will gladly take them off your hands and re-use them! This will help us to keep the prices of the plants on the barrow as low as possible. It's also part of our wider environmental committment at Pontefract Castle.

Just bring them along to the castle on your next visit! Please either leave them at the office (the first building you see going through the main gates), or at the Gift Shop (open Wednesday to Sunday).

Plant of the week: Oxlip (primula elatior)

The name 'primula' comes from the Latin 'primus' (first) and 'elatior' (taller / higher).

The common name 'oxlip' comes from 'ox' and 'slip'. It may refer to the fact that oxlips (and cowslips) are often found near dung, in fields used by cattle.

Oxlips are native to the UK. They are herbaceous, semi-evergreen, perennial, spring-flowering plants. They will grow to a height of 12 inches (30 cm) with a spread of 10 inches (25 cm). Oxlips can grow in either sun or partial shade. They need nutrient-poor, but rich in calcium, damp soil.

The leaves form a basal rosette. They are 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 8 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. They are oblong (rectuangular) to elliptical (oval-shaped). The leaves have a wrinkled surface and slightly toothed edges, with hairy undersides.

Oxlips flower during March and April. The light-yellow flowers form in "nodding" clusters of about 10 to 30 on a single stem. The flowers grow 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) tall. Each flower has a tubular base and five broad, rounded lobes. These form a shallow cup about half an inch (1 cm) across. The flowers tend to face in one direction in a one-sided umbel.

Oxlips are often seen as the link between primroses and cowslips. They have primrose-looking flowers, but the stem and flower growth pattern of a cowslip.

Pale yellow five petalled flowers growing on the end of furry green stems close to the ground

Oxlip growing in the Medieval Herb Garden

Culinary uses of olxip

Oxlips can be used in cooking, but they are used less often than the cowslip. Oxlip flowers and young leaves are edible. They are sometimes used in salads or as a garnish.

The leaves can be cooked and used like spinach. The flowers have a mild, sweet, slightly citrusy or apricot-like flavour. They can be used to make jam.

In the Middle Ages, oxlip was commonly used as a flavouring in beer before the introduction of hops.

Use of oxlip as a dye plant

Oxlip is not known as a strong dye plant.

Folklore and other facts about oxlips

Like the cowslip, oxlips were believed to be a favourite of fairies. They were said to use the flowers as umbrellas or shelter.

Picking or hanging oxlip flowers on Beltane Eve (30 April) was believed to protect a home or cattle shed from evil spirits and fairies.

The oxlip is the county flower of Suffolk.

Extracts from the oxlip are occasionally used in skincare products. They have soothing and moisturising properties.

The presence of oxlip in a meadow or forest indicates that the area has been undisturbed. They are a near-threatened species in the UK. Because of this, they are often used in habitat restoration projects.

Oxlip is an important plant for many species of insects, including bees and butterflies. These feed on its nectar and pollen. The plant is also a host plant for the caterpillars of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) and the Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly (Boloria euphrosyne). These butterflies are threatened species in Europe. They rely on the presence of oxlip in their habitats.

Medieval medicinal uses of oxlips*

Oxlips were traditionally used in herbal medicine for respiratory and nervous conditions. They helped to treat coughs, bronchitis, catarrh, flu and feverish colds. They were also used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, migraines, insomnia, anxiety and stress.

Ointments including oxlip were used on the skin for wounds and skin conditions.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Medieval herb garden blogs

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