Primula sieboldii 'Alba' (Co)

RHS Plant Profile
Siebold primrose 'Alba'

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Herbaceous Perennial
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A compact, rosette-forming, deciduous woodland perennial with pale green, wrinkled foliage and large, pure white flowers appearing in the spring. Lower-growing and later to flower than other cultivars

Position

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
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–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)
H5

Colour & Scent

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
Unresolved
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

Cortusoides section primulas are woodland perennials with long-stalked, rounded, lobed and hairy leaves, and usually rosy-pink flowers in a single umbel

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in partial shade, in deep humus-rich, moist, neutral to acid loam soil; tolerates full sun if the soil remains moist at all times. See primula cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging

Pruning

Tidy plant after flowering and remove diseased or damaged leaves

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, vine weevil and slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus, grey mould (botrytis) or primula brown core