Primula – Alpines and Pot Plants

February 26, 2017 hortoris

Primula is a genus with over 500 species and numerous hybrids, divided into 30+ sections.

Primulas all have flowers with 5 rounded petals like our own primrose Primula vulgaris. The cowslips, Primula elatior, flowers in simple umbels and the candelabras in rising tiers of umbels.

European Primulas

These plant s are hardy and most will succeed in any well drained gritty soil with plenty of humus.
All are spring flowering except Primula auricula, marginata, rubra and viscosa.
Although most like an open sunny position care must be taken to avoid drying out in too much sunshine.
With only a few exceptions the Primulas tolerate or even welcome lime.
Some varieties die back to a resting bud during summer.

Asiatic Primulas

Many of the candelabras are Asiatic in origin and grow strongly oftenÂ reaching 18-24″ tall.
In addition to well drained gritty soil with plenty of humus, they like a cool half shady position.
These Primulas tend to grow well in the north of England and Scotland.
The rosette forming plants are beautiful but some of the smaller species have exacting requirements.
The need to cover some rosettes through winter make these Primulas good alpine house plants.

American Primulas

North America is the third regionÂ for wild Primulas and the sparsest for varieties.
Primula angustifolia from the Rocky Mountains is small and mat forming. They are very suitable for pots in the alpine house.
Pans of Primula ellisiae need plenty of water during the growing season.
Primula suffrutescens is almost shrubby but is not hard to grow in sandy scree.