Primula

The primula family is a large and spectactuar group of low-growing plants that includes the primrose, cowslip and brightly coloured polyanthus.

Recommended varieties

Primulas have a long flowering season and are easy to grow. Their jewel-like blooms add a heartening splash of colour in a variety of garden situations.

The family provides an assortment of plants suitable for spring bedding, herbaceous borders, pond margins and alpine beds, as well as naturalising in lawns.

Although the wild primrose flowers in spring, others in the Primula polyanthus group start flowering in mid-winter and some varieties flower into the summer months.

Main types

The main types of primula:

Primula vulgaris : the primrose is a common native of deciduous woodlands producing a single yellow or cream flower on each stem. Over the centuries, humans and nature have hybridised the native primrose with foreign species to produce single flowers in just about every colour imaginable.
Primula veris : cowslip is another familiar native. It's distinctive owing to its slightly taller stems and yellow bell-like flowers.

Gardeners have bred wild forms of primula since medieval times, developing numerous garden species, including the notable Primula polyanthus group.

Early blooms

The following are good varieties for early blooms:

Primula juliae : Caucasian native with purple flowers flushed with crimson.
P. 'Wanda': claret or darker coloured Caucasian native.
P. vulgaris 'Alba Plena' and P. vulgaris 'Lilacina Plena': double primroses in pure white and pure lilac respectively.
P. 'Bon Accord Cerise': double variety with a sweet honeysuckle scent.
P. 'Crathes Crimson': another double whose sweetly scented, button-like flowers are shaded yellow at the base of each petal.
Jack-in-the-Green and Hose-in-Hose: two highly unusual but easy-to-grow primroses popular in the Middle Ages. Plants in the Jack-in-the-Green group have flowers cupped in a leafy green ruff. Hose-in-Hose's true petals grow out of a surrounding group of petals, giving the effect of a semi-double.
Primula veris 'Sunset Shades' : attractive variation on the common cowslip, with colours ranging from yellow to red.

Herbaceous borders

Not all primulas are small, ground-hugging plants. Many are taller and suitable for herbaceous borders or as marginal plants beside ponds. All the varieties thrive if given a place where the roots won't dry out during spring or summer.

P. florindae : giant cowslip is the tallest primula suitable for garden borders, reaching 1.2m to 1.5m (4ft to 5ft). The strong stems have terminal umbels with many fragrant bell-shaped yellow flowers on drooping stalks. Moist soil is essential.
P. denticulata : drumstick primulas are one of the most uniformly growing types for massed planting in damp borders or boggy soil. Its common name derives from the dense, spherical flower-head held on top of a 30cm (1ft) stems, which bloom between March and May. The majority are mauve; exceptions include P. denticulata var. alba , which is pure white, and the bright 'Robinson's Red'.
P. bulleyana : candelabra primula with dark green leaves beneath numerous 60cm (2ft) stems of light orange flowers, which appear in June.
P. sikkimensis : Himalayan cowslip is a typical example of the tallest ornamental primroses, mainly native to damp gorges in the Himalayan regions. It forms a mat of pale green, finely toothed leaves with pendant, funnel-shaped yellow flowers on 46cm (18in) stems. One of the last to flower, it is sweetly fragrant from early summer until July.
P. japonica : the Japanese primula's stems are covered in magenta-red flowers from May onwards. Prefers moist, waterside locations.

Smaller gardens

Alpine primulas are ideal for gardens that don't have room for graduating herbaceous borders.

P. nana : popular, tiny alpine primula that appears in January and reaches only 7.5cm (3in) high and 15cm (6in) across. The leaves are grey-green in colour and covered in a mealy-grey coating. Lavender-coloured flowers form above them, each with a yellow eye.
P. vialii : produces orchid-like flowers of lavender-blue in June. Can reach a height and spread of 30cm (12in).

Growing tips

The wild primrose is less fussy than the cowslip and will thrive if planted out of direct summer sun and with a moisture-retentive soil.

The important factor with this and most other primulas is that the roots should not dry out, so incorporate plenty of organic matter when you plant, mulch well in autumn and spring, and water regularly if in the open.

Problem solver

Most primulas are fairly trouble-free. Slugs are attracted to their young fresh growth and can be prevented by setting beer traps or using slug pellets.

Primula leaf spot can cause fungal spots on leaves. Affected leaves should be removed immediately to stop the spread of the disease.

Where to see them

National Collections of primulas:

Dr V Woolley
Field House Alpines
Leake Road, Gotham
Nottingham NG11 0JN
Tel: 0115 983 0278
By appointment only

L Roberts & G Dawson
Pops Cottage, Barford Lane
Downton, Salisbury
Wiltshire SP5 3PZ
Tel: 01725 511421
Website: (External) www.popsplants.co.uk
By appointment only