Auricula
About
Auricula, or Primula auricula, is a mountain primrose of the Alps, Northern Apennines, Western Carpathians, and the Balkans. In Poland, it grows only in the Tatras (it has disappeared in the Pieniny), while in Slovakia, it is common on the limestone of all higher mountains: in the Western and Belianske Tatras, Little and Great Fatra, Low Tatras, and the Choč Mountains, on the Muránska planina. There are also records from Romania. In Poland and Slovakia, there is a separate subspecies — a sub-endemic of the Western Carpathians. This species is absent in Ukraine.
All leaves are gathered in a rosette at the base: they are slightly fleshy, smooth, with a cartilaginous edge; young plants appear to be dusted with flour. The flower stalk, up to 25 cm tall, carries an umbel of yellow flowers with a diameter of 15–30 mm. The flowers are usually fragrant — they smell like apricots.
It blooms from April to June. This is a limestone plant: it clings to rocks and rocky meadows. In the Tatras, it grows from the foot to the alpine zone; according to our data, the most records are between 550 and 1500 m.
In Poland, Auricula has been under strict protection since 2004, and all its locations are in the Tatra National Park. Auricula has long been cultivated in gardens and alpine gardens, so there is no need to dig up wild plants.
This species does not live in the Ukrainian Carpathians today — you can see it in other Carpathian countries.
Where in the Carpathians
Orange — where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0/CC BY); a blank area does not mean it is absent.
- Countries
- Slovakia · Poland · Romania
- Mountain ranges
- In other countries: 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra, 🇸🇰 Lesser Fatra, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Strážov Mountains, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇸🇰 Slovak Paradise, 🇸🇰 Belianske Tatras, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 Choč Mountains, 🇸🇰 Volovec Mountains, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇷🇴 Mehedinți and Cerna Mountains
- Altitude belts
- Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)
When to see it
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering |
From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.
Protection and rules
This species is absent in Ukraine. In Poland, it has been under strict protection since 2004. Picking and digging up is prohibited.
FAQ
Where can I see Auricula in the Carpathians?
On the limestone cliffs of Slovakia — in the Great and Little Fatra, Low, Western, and Belianske Tatras, on the Muránska planina — and in the Polish Tatras.
When does Auricula bloom?
From April to June.
Comments
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Similar species
Where to meet it
Mountain ranges: In other countries: 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra, 🇸🇰 Lesser Fatra, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Strážov Mountains, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇸🇰 Slovak Paradise, 🇸🇰 Belianske Tatras, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 Choč Mountains, 🇸🇰 Volovec Mountains, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇷🇴 Mehedinți and Cerna Mountains
Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Sources
GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 11.11.2026.
