Primulas are popular in spring flower beds.
プリムラ is a direct loanword from Latin 'Primula' and is used interchangeably with セイヨウサクラソウ, though セイヨウサクラソウ is the native Japanese term.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 西洋 (せいよう, 'Western') + 桜草 (さくらそう, 'primrose'), literally 'Western primrose'. The name distinguishes it from native Japanese primrose species.