Peter Dowdall: Why so many of us love primroses 

'I can't tell you how many people I have spoken to recently who have told me their favourite flower at this time of year is the simple yet beautiful, common wild primrose, Primula vulgaris'

The single-flowering primrose (Primula vulgaris) plant in spring woodland. File picture

With so many plants available to us now in garden centres and online, new introductions every season, top flower colours, improved growing habits, repeat-flowering varieties, the lot and still, I can't tell you how many people I have spoken to recently that have told me their favourite flower at this time of year is the simple yet beautiful, common wild primrose, Primula vulgaris.

The same plant that grows in every hedgerow and mossy bank in the country, flowering away without anyone watering it, feeding it, or giving it a second thought. I think we must learn something from that.