Primula florindae

Primula florindae (18/07/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Primulaceae

Primula florindae is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are elliptic with irregularly dentate margins, up to 15cm long, 11cm across and arranged in rosettes. Its fragrant yellow flowers are bell shaped, up to 2cm across and appear in terminal umbles of up to 40 flowers at the end of long flowering stalks.

Primula florindae Flower (18/07/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Primula florindae, commonly known as the Giant Cowslip or Tibetan Cowslip, is native to south east Tibet. In its native habitat it grows on river banks/ margins and boggy sites.

The etymological root of the binomial name Primula is from the Latin name for the Primrose. Florindae is named after the wife of Francis Kingdon Ward (1885 – 1958) who first collected this plant.

The landscape architect may find Primula florindae useful as a summer flowering perennial suitable for boggy and waterside locations.

Primula florindae Leaf (18/07/15, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Primula florindae flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Primula florindae their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Primula florindae prefers moist soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers a neutral to acid pH. It dislikes dry soils.

Primula florindae requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in early spring.



Landscape Architecture

Primula vulgaris

Primula vulgaris (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Position: Dappled shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Primulaceae

Primula vulgaris is an evergreen,  herbaceous perennial with a rosette forming habit. Its mid green leaves are elliptic with irregularly dentate margins, tapering at the base, up to 25cm long, 6cm broad and arranged in a rosettes. Its fragrant pale yellow (occasionally pink) flowers are flat, up to 4cm across and appear singularly on short stems.

Primula vulgaris Flower (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

Primula vulgaris, commonly known as the Primrose, is native to west and south Europe (including the UK) and north west Africa. In its native habitat it grows in open deciduous woodland.

The etymological root of the binomial name Primula is from the Latin name for the Primrose, prima rosa meaning ‘first rose’. Vulgaris

The landscape architect may find Primula vulgaris useful as part of a native wild flower mix, particularly in open deciduous woodland.

Ecologically, Primula vulgaris is attractive to pollinating insects.

Primula vulgaris Leaf (13/04/2014, Torquay, Devon)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Primula vulgaris their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1998.

Primula vulgaris prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Primula vulgaris requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in autumn or spring.

Primula bulleyana

Primula bulleyana (23/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Primulaceae

Primula bulleyana is a semi-evergreen, herbaceous perennial with a rosette forming habit. Its mid green leaves are elliptic with irregularly dentate margins, tapering at the base, up to 22cm long, 8cm broad and arranged in a rosettes. Its stems and flower buds are covered in white/ grey powder. Its golden yellow flowers are bell shaped, up to 2.5cm across, appear in whorls around an erect stem, each plant producing up to six whorls.

Primula bulleyana Flower (23/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Primula bulleyana, commonly known as a Candelabra Primula or Bulley’s Primrose, is native to the east end of the Himalayas and south China. In its native habitat it grows in marshy alpine meadows and stream banks.

The etymological root of the binomial name Primula is from the Latin name for the Primrose. Bulleyana is named after Arthur Kilpin Bulley (1861–1942), an English cotton broker and sponsor George Forrest (1873-1932) a plant hunter and discoverer of this plant.

The landscape architect may find Primula bulleyana useful as a marginal plant at the edge of ponds, lakes and rivers and look particularly good when planted en mas.

Ecologically, Primula bulleyana is attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Primula bulleyana their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Primula bulleyana Leaf (23/06/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Primula bulleyana prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral pH of soil, although it will tolerate most pH of soil. It will tolerate wet soils.

Primula bulleyana requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in autumn.