PERENNIALS > PRIMROSE > VARIETIES

IN THIS GUIDE

PRIMROSE GUIDES

primula flowers with light yellow colour in a flowerbed

develop From SeedVarieties

Both the English Primrose and the Common Primrose are so well - known and are such received bearers for their genus that have lend their name to a colour – the indulgent , pallid tone of yellow unremarkably name ‘ Primrose ’ on paint cans and swatches around the world .

This being the instance perhaps it is somewhat surprising that primrose come in an amazing diversity of shade and hues , and even a few stinging and striped varieties .

primrose flowers in white, pink, yellow and orange in a garden border under a tree, with a tall wall in the background

P. ‘Perle Von Bottrop’

Most of these flowers are showy , and many are fragrant and pull butterflies and bee .

Another recognisable seeable belongings of Primula is that many plant of this genus form a basal rosette of acaulescent leaves .

Most Primula varieties ’ leaves themselves are very distinct , being deep but bright green , rather crinkle , and having a dentate margin .

light purple english primrose flowers with green leaves

Another distinctive characteristic is that many diverseness ’ flower stalks are somewhat hirsute .

plant of heights from 15 to 30 centimetres and a clumping habit are seen very frequently .

Here are eighteen of my favourites , along with some notable reference I could n’t facilitate but include at the end :

white flowers of P. acaulis in a garden bed

1) English Primrose

The ‘ female parent species ’ , so to address , raise only up to 10 curium with a similar spread .

The leafage are glossa - shaped and of a intermediate immature hue .

The open , salver - shaped prime of 2.5 - 3.5 cm are soft , pale icteric with a promising goldcup icteric eye .

Primula acaulis in bloom with flowers of yellow and purple

A mutation has ensue in some plants give birth pink or purplish flower of the same soft , wan tone as the received yellow ones , and also whitish ones .

Flowers bloom in spring and have a scent whose soothing gentleness matches that of their colour .

While the English Primrose is on the descent in East Anglia , it continue to flourish in the South - Western region , specially Devon County .

common primrose flowers in muddy ground

It is native to Europe but its universe is declining all over Europe except in the United Kingdom .

These plants favour a sheltered spot , in moist but well - drained soil , and are fully hardy , with a H7 hardiness rating .

Whether in a timberland garden , cottage garden or wild flower meadow , these lovely leap blooms cultivate extremely well in many dissimilar gardens .

P. vulgaris subsp. sibthorpii in a large garden bed

This industrial plant has invite the RHS Award of Garden Merit .

2) Common Primrose

The frequently - seen subspecies of the English Primrose take issue from the species in being 20 - 40 cm tall and with a similar spread .

The flowers , while similar and also scented , are also a little bigger .

Finally , it go to blossom a little to begin with than the English Primrose , often in late wintertime .

white P. vulgaris ‘Dunbeg’ flowers up close

Even its ambit is large , covering most of Europe and extending to Southwestern Asia and the Northwestern sliver of Africa but this variety too is dwindling throughout its range except for the United Kingdom .

recipient role of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .

“ The English primula and common primrose are educe from the same speciesPrimula vulgaris , with ‘ vulgaris ’ meaning unwashed in Latin , ” shares Master Horticulturist Dan Ori .

white and yellow flowers of primula vulgaris in very dry soil

“ count on where you are from and who taught you , you may call both mintage the common primula . ”

3) Sibthorp Primrose

Another race of P. vulgaris , it is 20 - 40 cm marvelous but with a ranch of about 10 cm .

It has clusters of long - stalk heyday which are a lovely vibrant pink purple vividness .

These flowers are around 2 - 3 centimeter wide , and also bloom in former fountain .

Danova Series Primroses in yellow, red, pink, purple, white and blue

They can also work well in full sun or fond shade and are H5 hardy .

Blooming in saltation , it is found in a swath of land from Greece to Turkey .

Another recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit .

yellow cowslip flowers in focus

4) ‘Dunbeg’ Primrose

This variant is similar toP. vulgariswith the difference that its foliage is a bronzed green with an ochreous mite and the flowers being off - whitened or even pure white with a bright , deep yellow center .

5) ‘Taigetos’ Primrose

This cultivar ofP. vulgarisis also around 15 cm tall , and yet its flowers are white , with yellow centres .

The white blooms really stick out out in dappled tad and convey some visible light into these pretty shadier topographic point in the early spring .

Just like the typicalP. vulgaris , they can grow in Lord’s Day or partial tincture , in moist but well - drained soil . And they are H7 audacious .

upright yellow flowers and leafy foliage of P. florindae

6) ‘Danova’ Series

The AGM - winning ‘ Danova ’ series of primrose are a kitchen stove of clump - mold plants which have attractive flowers with large yellow eye and petals in numerous shades , from emollient , to yellow , to pink , to red , to empurple .

This species offers nigh - year - round of drinks blooms in over 35 hues and shades .

They bloom from later winter and into early spring and seat within the primrose group of Primulas .

primula Crescendo series with red and yellow coloured flowers

They are H5 audacious and will grow well in a range of environment in full Sunday or fond wraith , in moist but well - drained dirt .

They do best in a loam or sand with neutral or acidulous pH.

7) ‘Charisma’ Series

Another AGM awarded group of primroses is the ‘ Charisma ’ Series .

These perennial raise around 20 cm grandiloquent and they have vibrant pink blossom which are strongly flushed with a deeper red - purpleness , centre on brilliant yellow eyes .

Under glass , they blossom from the recent winter .

Primula ‘Francisca’ with green and yellow flowers

These are also H5 hardy , and also prefer a moist but well - drained , acid or neutral loam or Baroness Dudevant .

They can grow well in full sun or fond spectre , but should not be allow to dry out out in hot weather .

These can be a great choice for container grow in special , in an east - facing or south - facing spot .

Primula ‘Guinevere’ with light pink flowers

8) Common Cowslip

The Cowslip flora has a basal rosette of leaves on shortsighted stalks over which a main stem boost to 20 - 30 centimetre .

It bears an umbel of little , 1.5 curium bell shape - shaped flowers that are strongly sweet-smelling and are of a deep , brilliant sensationalistic chromaticity .

It is aboriginal to the United Kingdom , much of Europe and Western Asia .

auricula primroses growing on a rocky mountainside

These are a great alternative for a sheltered military position in a bed , container or meadow outline , in full sun or partial specter , with moist but well - drained grunge .

It bloom in mid and late bound . RHS Award of Garden Merit .

9) Giant Cowslip

Much bigger than its diminutive namesake , this native of Tibet reaches a superlative of 1.2 m.

The declamatory folio are 20 - 40 cm retentive and even the stems are noticeably stocky .

The flowers are a much bigger interlingual rendition of those borne by P. veris and are likewise colour .

white flowers of Primula ‘Aire Mist’ in a gravel filled pot

However , they are more profuse , being 20 - 30 per umbel , and are even more strongly and sweet scented .

It blooms through the summer – has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit .

10) ‘Crescendo’ Primrose

The Polyanthus chemical group of Primulas are perennialsoften grown as biennial .

They spring rosettes , and digest umbels of salver - influence prime in the wintertime and spring .

The ‘ Crescendo ’ Series offers several alternative which have been given an Award of Garden Merit : Pink and Rose Shades , Bright Red , and Blue .

lilac and white coloured flowers of Primula allionii covered in raindrops

These names refer to the colour of the petals array around the vivid xanthous eyes .

These Polyanthus are H5 hardy , they care full Sunday or partial shade , and moist but well - drained ground which is acidic or neutral .

11) ‘Francisca’ Primrose

This is an evergreen plant perennial that grow around 18 cm marvellous – it has unusual green , chickenhearted - eyed flowers which are 3 - 4 cm across .

The petals have a slimly frilly appearing and depend almost like leave of absence .

With excellent weather resistance , this Polyanthus will blossom throughout natural spring and summertime .

Primula x pubescens with purple and white petals

This pick is H7 sturdy , good for sun or part shade .

It like a moist but well - drained , acidic or neutral soil but will not do well if permit to dry out too much in red-hot weather .

12) ‘Guinevere’ Primrose

This Polyanthus is semi - evergreen perennial which develop to around 12 cm marvelous .

It has purple - bronze leaves , and bears umbel of very pale pinkish purple , yellowed - eyed flowers 3 - 4 curium across in the fountain .

It is H6 hardy , and also like sun or fond shade .

true oxlip growing from woodland ground

The territory , which can be of any character and pH , should be moist but well drained .

13) Mountain Cowslip

Auricula Primulas are evergreen perennials with leathery foliage and mere umbels of salver - determine flowers which are usually pink , purple or yellowish .

This choice has fragrant , bright yellow-bellied flowers 1 - 2.5 cm across , which form in umbel on stems 20 curium tall in the bound .

H5 hardy , for any moist but well drained filth in full sun or partial subtlety .

Parry’s Primrose with bright pink flowers and leafy foliage

It can also be grown in hatful in an alpine theater .

14) ‘Aire Mist’ Primrose

This Auricula is a small repeated 10 cm tall , with pure clean flower which climb on short stems in the spring .

This will grow best in a well debilitate , alkaline land and could be a good choice foran alpine house or rock garden .

15) Primula ‘Broadwell Milkmaid’

The efflorescence of this Auricula can flower so extravagantly that they entirely cover the leaves ; they are a milky blank colour .

These are well grown in an alpine house or frame , in a loam - based compost with added unslaked lime .

quash wet the foliage and bloom .

dainty pink flowers of P. malacoides

16) Primrose ‘Clarence Eliot’

This Auricula grow around 10 cm tall .

It has lilac - mauve coloured flower , with lily-white throats , that grow on short stems above the leafage in springiness .

H5 intrepid ; best grow in an alkaline , well - drain medium in a rock garden or alpine house .

Japanese Primrose with upright stems of red flowers and rocks in the background

17) Garden Auricula

Garden auriculais an evergreen repeated to 12 curium .

The often fragrant heyday bloom in a range of different hues , from purpleness , to pink , to red , to yellow-bellied , to whitened .

They are around 2 atomic number 96 across , often with prominent eyes .

Primula sieboldii flowers

18) True Oxlip

Another UK native , the oxlip is another semi - evergreen perennial .

It grow around 30 centimetre tall and bears dark - eyed yellowish flush , 2.5 atomic number 96 across , in one - sided clusters on its upright stem .

This is another great wildlife - favorable choice for your garden – majuscule in containers , in layer or delimitation , or in a wildflower meadow in full sun or fond spectre , in moist but well - drained soil .

pom pom shaped blooms of drumstick primula with lilac flowering

H6 hardy .

Honourable Mentions

Other specie , less commonly discover in British gardens , let in :

A non - aboriginal specie from ‘ the New World ’ .

From vindicated across the planet – the Indochina neighborhood .

belarina primrose flowers with cream blooms

noted and very pretty species from Japan and the Far - East let in :

P. sieboldiiextensively has been cultivated in Japan and a turn of stunning cultivars have been train .

As for the unusualP. denticulata , its conversational name , ‘ Drumstick Primula ’ , is surely the more descriptive on invoice of its strange ‘ drumstick ’ flowers .

P. ‘Perle Von Bottrop’ flowers in deep pink

P. ‘Perle Von Bottrop’

There is yet another such primrose , Primula‘Inverewe ’ or Candelabra Primrose which support its vermilion flowers in a whorl not unalike from a candelabrum .

The lesser - known ‘ Belarina ’ serial features strange double grade in copious , saturated hues .

This next variety produces center - catch ‘ stock ’ flower but of similar racy , saturated chromaticity :

P. vialii with upright blooms

This multifariousness has a creeping habit with magenta - purple flowers .

We close with three highly strange varieties :

With blossom strongly resemble those of the southerly African Kniphofia or ‘ Red Hot Poker ’ isP. vialiiAKA ‘ Red Hot Poker Primrose ’ !

Primrose Gold Laced Group with a crimson and gold pattern

The flower is fundamentally a ‘ hair crimper ’ of lilac from which emerges a central lead of crimson red .

P.‘Gold Laced ’ Group , one of the Polyanthus Primroses , presents stunning disc - form flower that are startling deep red - to - black with a broad favorable central saucer and gilded edging .

Another Polyanthus isP.‘Zebra Blue ’ and it is true to its name as the sensational flower display touchy gamey - and - blanched undress and veining .

zebra blue primula flowers with blue, white and yellow colours

Of course , these are just a diminished fraction of the many , many primroses and other Primulas that you might rise in a UK garden .