American Cowslip Botanical Art Print
Brandywine General Store
Swept-back purple petals and broad, richly shaded green leaves give this American Cowslip botanical illustration its distinctive elegance. Published in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1787, the study presents Dodecatheon meadia in full bloom, with nodding flowers and slender buds gathered above a tall stem. The stalk is shown cut and arranged to fit the plant’s proportions onto the page, preserving both its graceful form and its botanical detail.
The original account describes this North American plant as growing wild in Virginia and other regions, and records its introduction to London around 1709 through Mr. Bannister and Dr. Compton, the Lord Bishop of London. Curtis notes that it flowers in early May, ripens its seeds in July, and then loses its stalks and leaves as the roots rest until the following spring. He also describes its preference for loose, moist soil and a shady situation, where the roots freely produce offsets.
The pointed purple flowers, curved stems, and finely engraved leaf shading bring the quiet beauty of an antique botanical study to a reading nook, garden room, or flower-inspired wall display. Available as a premium-quality archival art print by Brandywine General Store.
Catalog – Botanical Art Print #56
Our Products
