Primula vulgaris (Native Primrose, English Primrose or Common Primrose)
Michael's Opinion
This is a plant that one should not be without. This may be partly due to my biased Cornish heritage, where this plant was found along the hedgerows where I pent my childhood in Cornwall, or because it is just such a solid performer. It is a tough, resilient plant that given a little moisture in our summer droughts it will flourish in the garden for years to come.
Botanical Information
Family | Primulaceae |
Genus | Primula |
Species | vulgaris |
Category | Perennials, Wildflowers & Weeds |
Origin | From Britain, southern Norway, and northern Spain to north Africa, Lebanon, Iran, and the Caucasus. |
Details
USDA Hardiness Zone | 1a - 6a |
USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
Canadian Hardiness Zone | 0a - 6b |
Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 |
RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
Temperature (°C) | -51 - (-21) |
Temperature (°F) | -5 - 5 |
Height | 15 cm |
Spread | 30-45 cm |
Growth | Medium |
Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
General Description | Rosette forming herbaceous perennial. |
ID Characteristic | Tongue-shaped leaves with multiple small yellow flowers. |
Shape | Rounded. |
Landscape | Low maintenance banks and informal wildflower gardens. |
Propagation | Easily by early spring crown divisions. |
Cultivation | Favours a sheltered position in sun or partial shade. Grows well in moist soil heavy in clay. |
Pests | Grey mould. |
Notable Specimens | Caerhays Castle, Gorran, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
Habitat | Deciduous woodlands, banks, hedges and shaded grasslands. |
Photographs
Primula vulgaris, form.
Primula vulgaris, form.
Primula vulgaris, form. Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Primula vulgaris, flower cluster. Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
![Primula vulgaris, form. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Primula vulgaris, form. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom.](photos/Primula-vulgaris-frm.jpg)
Primula vulgaris, form. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
![Primula vulgaris, flower. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Primula vulgaris, flower. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom.](photos/Primula-vulgaris-flw.jpg)
Primula vulgaris, flower. Carn Galver, Zennor, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
![Primula vulgaris, flower. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019 Primula vulgaris, flower. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019](photos/Primula-vulgaris-flw.jpg)
Primula vulgaris, flower. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019
![Primula vulgaris, form. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019 Primula vulgaris, form. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019](photos/Primula-vulgaris-frm.jpg)
Primula vulgaris, form. St Agnes Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom. 24/04/2019
![Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain. Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain.](photos/Primula-vulgaris-pollen.jpg)
Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain.
Primula vulgaris 'Eugenie'.
![Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Pink'. Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Pink'.](photos/Primula-vulgaris-Arctic-Pink-form.jpg)
Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Pink'.
![Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Red'. Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Red'.](photos/Primula-vulgaris-Arctic Red-form.jpg)
Primula vulgaris 'Arctic Red'.
Primula vulgaris 'April Rose'.
Awards
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