Primula beesiana (Pf)

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Bee's primrose

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Bogs Herbaceous Perennial
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A deciduous perennial forming a flat rosette of light green, crinkly leaves to 20cm long. Upright, mealy stems bear several whorls of yellow-eyed, purple flowers in late spring and early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Primulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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
Name Status
Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

Proliferae section primulas are moisture-loving herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a rosette of basal leaves, with erect stems each carrying several whorls of salver-shaped flowers
Plant Range
W China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in partial shade, in deep, humus-rich, moist, neutral to acid loam soil, or naturally peaty soil. Tolerates full sun if soil remains moist at all times

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in an open frame, as soon as ripe or in late winter or early spring. Divide between autumn and early spring. Root basal cutting or offsets in autumn or early spring. Take root cuttings when dormant in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, leaf hoppers, vine weevil, slugs

Diseases

May suffer from a virus, primula brown core and grey mould (botrytis)