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Primula vulgaris (Pr/prim)

primrose

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
primrose

© Mike L. Grant 1998

53 suppliers RHS Plant Shop from £2.49

  • Other common names primrose
    blue primrose

    culver keys

    see more

  • Synonyms Primula acaulis
    Primula grandiflora

    Primula uniflora Gmelin
    Primula vernalis

    see more

  • Family Primulaceae

  • 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

  • Horticultural Group Primroses are rosette-forming herbaceous perennials, sometimes grown as annuals, with clusters of solitary flowers arising from the rosette in late winter or early spring

  • Details P. vulgaris is a perennial forming a rosette of tongue-shaped leaves, with many scented, usually primrose-yellow flowers 2.5-3.5cm across, in early spring

  • Plant range W & S Europe

Characteristics

  • Foliage Semi-evergreen

  • Habit Clump-forming

  • Fragrance Flower

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height Up to 10 cm

  • Ultimate spread 0-0.1 metre

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow as biennials for bedding and in a container or rock garden. Favours a sheltered position in sun or partial shade

Propagation Propagate by seed or root basal cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Low Maintenance Banks and Slopes Cottage & Informal Garden Wildflower meadow Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests May be attacked by aphids, vine weevil, slugs, leaf and bud eelworms, leaf-mining flies and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases May be subject to a leaf spot and grey mould

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Primula vulgaris (Pr/prim)

primrose

Buy from £2.49 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £2.49 at the RHS Plants Shop

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