Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cmTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Neutral, AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Purple | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Primulaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- 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
Unresolved
- Horticultural Group
- Primrose group primulas are mainly grown as herbaceous perennials, and produce clusters of flowers on individual stems from the basal rosettes, although a few may also have umbel-like flowers. They are either spring-flowering, if grown without protection, or winter- to spring-flowering, if grown as biennial container plants in greenhouses or indoors.
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in deep, humus-rich, moist soil. Partial shade is ideal, but will tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in spring, or by division between autumn and early spring. Root basal cuttings or offsets in autumn or early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Houseplants
- Patio and container plants
- Banks and slopes
- Bedding
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Flower borders and beds
- Garden edging
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse leafhopper and vine weevil. Slugs and snails may cause damage to leaves
Diseases
May be susceptible to virus diseases, grey moulds and primula brown core
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.