About
A rosette-forming perennial to 40cm tall, the spear-shaped, pale green leaves have inrolled margins, and in midsummer, erect stems with terminal conical spikes of light violet flowers 1cm in width, open from red buds, the unopened buds giving the flowering spike a red tip.
About the genus
Primula are herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials, forming a basal rosette of simple leaves, with salver-shaped or bell-shaped flowers which may be solitary or carried in an umbel or in whorls on an erect stem
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Bogs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden
Native toSW China
Care notes
CultivationGrow in deep moist or moist but well-drained neutral to acid, humus-rich soil in partial shade. Sun is tolerated if soil remains consistently moist. See primula cultivation
PruningCut back after flowering
PropagationPropagate by division in early spring or propagate by seed sown from autumn to spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, vine weevil, slugs, leaf and bud eelworms and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free