Primrose Primula
Other plants called Primrose:
- Phonetic Spelling
- PRIM-yew-luh
- Description
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Primrose is a genus of over 500 species of perennial herbs in the Primulaceae family. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, and in temperate southern South America. Almost half of the known species are from the Himalayas. They can be found anywhere from mountain slopes to bogs or meadows. Primula is from Latin primus, meaning first. The genus contains over 450 species with over 250 in cultivation.
Many prefer cool, shaded, moist soil with abundant organic matter and can grow up to 3 feet tall. Divide clumps after flowering.
Flowers are either 'pin-eyes', with long styles and short anthers or 'thrum-eyes', with long anthers and short styles. They come in a variety of colors and generally bloom in spring in rounded clusters above a rosette of leaves.
Many ornamental species can be u used in containers, in rock gardens, in borders, and in shade gardens.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are in basal rosette, are oblong-spatulate
- Flowers are salverform with 5 emarginate lobes
- Flower scapes are erect, leafless, with 1 or more flowers
- Leaf petioles are short, often winged
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for slugs, snails weavels, aphids and spider mites. Diseases can include gray mold, leaf spot, root and crown rot and viral diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- P. elatior, P. meadia, P. obconica, P. veris, P. vulgaris, P. x polyantha
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- P. elatior, P. meadia, P. obconica, P. veris, P. vulgaris, P. x polyantha
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Primula
- Family:
- Primulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temperate and Subtropical Regions
- Wildlife Value:
- They provide nectar for early season pollinators and some are host plants to butterflies.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small oval to rounded capsules that split from the top to release seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are red, pink, purple, blue, white, or yellow in color. They usually have a different colored center, can be scented or unscented, can be erect to nodding, and are less than an inch in diameter. The corolla is salverform and 5-lobed. Lobes are spreading and emarginate. Inflorescence is a solitary or multi-flowered umbel, raceme, or whorl. Peduncle is erect, leafless, and unbranched.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are in a basal rossette, are simple, ovate to obovate to spatulate, sometimes have a waxy farine ('bloom'), and are pale to dark green in color. Petioles are short and often winged. Size and shape vary with species.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stoutgreen scapes emerge from the rosette of leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
