Bloomipedia
Parry's primrose (Primula parryi)
Photo: Grant Chovil via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Parry's primrose

Primula parryi

Native in the lower 48

Parry's primrose is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

8states
2of our state lists
3,304U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Wyoming

Quick look

Primula parryi, or Parry's primrose, is a herbaceous perennial native to wet areas from the subalpine zone to alpine tundra in the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico.

  • It belongs to the Primulaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado and Wyoming. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,233 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #69 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 293 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #98 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist

Parry's primrose gift ideas

Handmade parry's primrose gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Parry's primrose art print

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    Parry's primrose greeting card

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    Parry's primrose mug

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    Parry's primrose earrings

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    Parry's primrose embroidery pattern

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    Parry's primrose sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (181 records)
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August2,233
WyomingNativefew records293

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Primula vulgaris (“Primrose”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records parry's primrose in 8 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Park, Pitkin, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Summit.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Johnson, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton.

More Colorado flowers

Dark-throated shooting star (Primula pauciflora)

Dark-throated shooting star

Primula pauciflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–July
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–October
Blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Blue columbine

Aquilegia coerulea

★ CO state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Sources