Overview
Primula microdonta is a rosette-forming, clump-forming perennial in the genus Primula, part of the Primulaceae family, with deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen; rosettes of crinkled or mealy leaves foliage. Primula microdonta grows best in partial shade; alpines and auriculas take more sun, and tolerates fertile humus-rich loam; alpine kinds need gritty free-draining soil soils and neutral to slightly acid; asiatic species dislike lime pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4-H7 depending on group.
About
Primula microdonta is a rosette-forming perennial in the Primulaceae that produces clumps of crinkled or mealy basal leaves. Leaves may be deciduous, semi‑evergreen or evergreen according to group and site. Flowering occurs from February to June, with blooms borne above the leaf rosettes. It prefers partial shade with a sheltered aspect.
About the genus
Primula is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose, a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are P.
Wikipedia contributors, "Primula", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Primula
In the garden
Primula microdonta sits within the primula group as a rosette- and clump-forming perennial noted for its crinkled or mealy leaf rosettes. Flowering runs from February to June, when short stems carry the spring display above the foliage. The plants may be deciduous, semi‑evergreen or evergreen depending on microclimate and cultivar. Siting and soil depend on the group you have: most woodland and candelabra‑type primulas favour reliably moist, fertile humus-rich loam in partial shade, while alpine forms need a gritty, free-draining mix and will tolerate more sun. Soil pH should be neutral to slightly acid; Asiatic types in particular dislike lime. Give a north, east or west-facing aspect and shelter from drying winds for best results. Hardiness ranges from H4 to H7, so selection determines whether a plant is average hardy through to fully hardy in UK gardens. Use moisture-tolerant groups in shaded borders, beside streams or in damp hollows; place alpine forms in scree, troughs or sharply drained rockery pockets. The basal rosettes are the plant’s main structural feature and will persist in semi‑evergreen forms through winter, with flowers emerging from those rosettes each spring.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Primula
- Sunlight
- Partial shade; alpines and auriculas take more sun
- Soil type
- Fertile humus-rich loam; alpine kinds need gritty free-draining soil
- Soil pH
- Neutral to slightly acid; Asiatic species dislike lime
- Soil moisture
- Reliably moist for candelabra and woodland kinds; sharply drained for alpines
- Aspect
- North, east or west facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4-H7 depending on group
Plant details
Primula microdonta size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Habit
- Rosette-forming, clump-forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen; rosettes of crinkled or mealy leaves
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Primula microdonta
- Cultivation
- Match the group to the site and these are easy plants; ignore the distinction and they are short-lived. Candelabra and sikkimensis types want ground that never dries, so a streamside or bog garden suits them perfectly, while auriculas and the alpine species need gritty compost, protection from winter rain, and are traditionally grown in pots in an open frame. Woodland primulas ask for nothing more than leaf mould and dappled shade.
- Pruning
- No pruning required. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding where it is not wanted, and remove dead outer leaves from the rosettes to reduce rot.
- Propagation
- Divide after flowering, ideally every second or third year, as congested rosettes decline. Seed germinates best sown fresh and given a cold period, and many species self-sow freely.
- Pest resistance
- Vine weevil is the principal enemy, especially in pots, along with slugs, aphids and red spider mite under glass.
- Disease resistance
- Prone to grey mould and crown rot in stagnant damp. Primula brown core, a root rot, causes gradual decline in long-established plantings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow Primula microdonta?
Match the group to the site and these are easy plants; ignore the distinction and they are short-lived. Candelabra and sikkimensis types want ground that never dries, so a streamside or bog garden suits them perfectly, while auriculas and the alpine species need gritty compost, protection from winter rain, and are traditionally grown in pots in an open frame. Woodland primulas ask for nothing more than leaf mould and dappled shade.
Where is the best place to plant Primula microdonta?
Primula microdonta prefers partial shade; alpines and auriculas take more sun. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Primula microdonta need?
Primula microdonta grows best in fertile humus-rich loam; alpine kinds need gritty free-draining soil soil. It prefers neutral to slightly acid; asiatic species dislike lime soil. Aim for soil that stays reliably moist for candelabra and woodland kinds; sharply drained for alpines.
How do I prune Primula microdonta?
No pruning required. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding where it is not wanted, and remove dead outer leaves from the rosettes to reduce rot.
Is Primula microdonta hardy in the UK?
Primula microdonta has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Primula microdonta?
Divide after flowering, ideally every second or third year, as congested rosettes decline. Seed germinates best sown fresh and given a cold period, and many species self-sow freely.
More in the Primula genus
- Primula aurantiaca
- Primula burmanica
- Primula helodoxa
- Primula waltonii
- Primula 'Asthore Hybrids'
- Primula 'Devon Cream'
- Primula 'Ravenglass Vermilion'
- Primula 'Red Hugh'