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  • 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
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Primula vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Pr/prim)

common 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
Sold by 5 nurseries

  • Other common names common primrose

  • 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 Primula Primrose - placeholder for friendly description

  • Details P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is a rosette-forming perennial to 20cm, with obovate light green leaves and clusters of fragrant, long-stalked pale yellow flowers 2.5-4cm in width

  • Plant range Europe, N Africa, SW Asia

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 West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in partial shade or full sun but only if moist at all times. Good in open woodland or banks

Propagation Propagate by seed or division in autumn and early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Banks and Slopes Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs Flower borders and beds Low Maintenance Coastal Patio & Container Plants Rock Garden City & Courtyard Gardens Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests May be attacked by aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, leafhoppers, vine weevil and slugs

Diseases May be subject to primula brown core and grey moulds

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