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Alpine RockeryHerbaceous Perennial

Primula russeola (Cy)

A clump-forming, evergreen alpine perennial with fleshy green leaves, furry around the edges and with a deep midrib. Umbels of violet flowers appear from mid-spring until summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–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)

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: 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
Plant range: China, Tibet

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

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