Meadow Cowslip was voted Flower of the Year 2016

The rich yellow meadow cowslip is the flower of the year 2016. As the Loki Schmidt Foundation in Hamburg announced, should be advertised with the choice for the protection of this rare plant. Because in most of the federal states, the primrose plant with the rich yellow leaves is already on the red list of endangered species.
Action "Flower of the Year" was launched in 1980 by Loki Schmidt
The Hamburger Loki Schmidt Foundation has named the meadow cowslip (Primula veris) Flower of the Year 2016 today. At the same time, the eponym and wife of former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (1919-2010), who campaigned for nature conservation over decades, is commemorated. In 1980, biologist Loki Schmidt set up the campaign "Flower of the Year" to inform the public about endangered wild plants and thus better protect the rare plants.
The Primula veris ("First Flower in Spring") is a "spring messenger" from March to May in many regions of the country, adorning meadows, forest edges and embankments. However, as the Foundation reports, the meadow cowslip is already on the Red List in several federal states, whereby northern Germany in particular is affected. The reason for this is that the calcareous soils preferred by the plant are rare in comparison to southern Germany.

True Cowslip Flower of the Year 2016. Image: tinadefortunata - fotolia

Primula veris needs calcareous soil and sun
In addition, according to the foundation, other factors favor the disappearance of the plant in many places. These include the intensive use of meadows and pastures, fertilization, as well as the transition from grassland to farmland, and the strong bush and tree growth also plays an important role. For in addition to the calcareous soil needs the meadow cowslip sun: "Our last unfertilized meadows on drier soils must be maintained," said the CEO of the Foundation, Axel Jahn.
Accordingly, the Foundation would claim to promote the "flower of the year 2016" for a "careful use of the habitats of this plant" according to their own information. This means that in lean and dry, semi-open or open landscapes such. Meadows, juniper heaths and sparse forests "should be avoided as a protective measure [...] to avoid fertilization and nutrients should be prevented", write the Foundation's experts.

Loki Schmidt Foundation issues free seeds
In addition, the attractive, perennial shrub is also considered a popular garden plant. Since it is protected nationwide, it should not be excavated in nature. Many nurseries would offer the plant, however, also hold the Loki Schmidt Foundation ready postcards with seeds, which can be ordered free of charge, the message. (No)