Primula chionantha (Cy)

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snow-white primrose

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Synonyms

Primula nivalis Pallas
Primula graminifolia

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Alpine Rockery Bogs Herbaceous Perennial
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A clump-forming, deciduous perennial to 60cm high, with rosettes of mid-green leaves up to 25cm long, dusted with white meal. In late spring to early summer, flowering stems bear one to four clusters of small, pendent, scented flowers that are creamy white, white with purple eyes, or lilac purple

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or 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

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Primulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
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
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

Crystallophlomis primulas form long, narrow, upright leaves with several flower stems per plant carrying one to three whorls of pink, purple, white or cream flowers

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in partial shade in deep, humus-rich, moist, neutral to acid soil. Will tolerate sun if soil is kept moist

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe, or divide established clumps in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Banks and slopes
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back flower stems when flowers have faded

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, red spider mites, leafhoppers, slugs and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to primula brown core, grey moulds and virus diseases