Primula vulgaris
Garden Plant Information

Primula vulgaris

 

Primula vulgaris

 

Name

Primula vulgaris (also called Primrose and Native Primrose)

Genus  

Primula

Species

vulgaris

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Rosette-forming, semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial, grown for sweetly scented pale yellow flowers which usually appear in early spring, but may flower on and off all year round. Excellent for naturalistic planting as the plants spread easily by self-seeding. Very attractive to bees, moths and butterflies.

Season of interest

Mainly flowers in early spring, but may flower at other times.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - low-growing, rosette-forming. H: 20cm S: 35cm.

  2. Leaves - wedge-shaped to oval with crinkled edges. Deeply veined and mid-green.

  3. Flowers - salver-shaped, in pale yellow with a darker centre, carried on slender arching stems. Sweetly scented.

Cultural details

Aspect

Sun or partial shade. Does well in a woodland edge setting.

Soil

Moisture-retentive, humus-rich, acid to neutral.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Divide after the plant has finished flowering and keep well watered till re-established.

 

 

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as it is ripe, in a cold frame - best carried out when temperatures are below 20c. Divide after plants have finished flowering.

 

Will also set seed, meaning that naturalistic planting can be easily achieved by letting the plant get on with it and just weeding out those plants not wanted.