Primrose Day in England

The primrose is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, lending it meaning as a symbol of youth and renewal. To the Victorians, a gift of a primrose signified young love. April 19th is 'Primrose day'. This date is the anniversary of the death of the former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and the primrose was his favourite flower. Queen Victoria supposedly sent him bunches regularly and to this day primroses are laid at his statue by Westminster Abbey on this date every year.

Primrose is a native plant in Britain, and its distribution remains stable. Its decline in areas of East Anglia - following a series of hot, dry summers from 1970 onwards - hints at a possible threat posed by climate change. The main threat is the loss of habitat. Inappropriate management of woodland and waysides can all contribute to a local decline.