Plants in genus primula
Primula kisoana
Primula kisoana is a hardy plant native to the Honshu and Shikoku islands of Japan. It features round, corrugated leaves and large bright pink flowers on six-inch stems. This plant forms a stoloniferous mat capable of choking out weeds and thrives in partly shady conditions.
Primula veris
Primula veris is a herbaceous perennial native to temperate Europe and western Asia, known for its deep yellow flowers in spring. It grows to about 10 inches tall and is found in open areas like fields and meadows. This plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit and is used in wildflower mixes for landscaping.
Primula japonica
Primula japonica, native to Japan, is a herbaceous perennial that thrives in bogs and damp areas. It forms a slowly increasing colony and blooms in late May through June with flowers in shades of purple, red, pink, or white. This plant prefers shady, poorly drained conditions and has award-winning cultivars.
Primula vulgaris
Primula vulgaris is a winter-hardy primrose hybrid with dense clusters of double blue flowers. It is summer dormant and prefers bright shade or a few hours of direct sun. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained soils and tolerates brief periods of drought. Its rosettes of green leaves reach about 7 inches tall and 1 foot wide, making it suitable for woodland and rock gardens.
Primula vulgaris 'April Rose'
Primula vulgaris 'April Rose' is a plant with clusters of double fuchsia-rose colored flowers. It is summer dormant in hot climates and prefers bright shade or a few hours of direct sun. This plant requires moist, well-drained soils and is semi-dormant during midsummer.
Primula 'Drumcliff'
Primula 'Drumcliff' is a spring-blooming plant with dark olive-brown foliage and flowers that emerge pale lavender, turning white. It thrives in slightly moist soils and is suitable for part sun to light shade. This plant adds a touch of elegance to gardens with its changing flower colors.
Primula sieboldii 'New Snow'
Primula sieboldii 'New Snow' is a woodland plant introduced in 2004, featuring large, deeply-cleft white flowers on 8-inch tall stalks. It thrives in rich, well-drained soils and is summer-dormant, returning from dormancy in late winter to flower in spring. The plant's foliage is lively spring green with a scalloped edge, spreading at a modest rate.
Primula vulgaris 'Zebra Blue'
Primula vulgaris 'Zebra Blue' is a compact perennial forming 6-inch tall clumps with violet-blue streaked white flowers and a yellow throat. It prefers bright shade or a few hours of direct sun and thrives in moist, well-drained soils. This plant is semi-dormant during midsummer and can tolerate brief periods of drought.
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Pink Ice'
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Pink Ice' is a heat-tolerant perennial known for its dense clusters of double flowers that transition from white to lavender-pink. It thrives in bright shade or with a few hours of direct sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils. This plant provides a showy floral display in spring and can tolerate brief droughts.
Primula vulgaris 'Red Velvet'
Primula vulgaris 'Red Velvet' is a vibrant selection of the popular primrose, known for its double red flowers that bloom in late winter. This plant prefers bright shade or limited direct sunlight and thrives in moist, well-drained soils. It can tolerate brief droughts but may go semi-dormant in hot climates. The foliage often yellows in midsummer, but new growth appears in early fall, making it a showy addition to gardens.
Primula 'Prinic'
Primula 'Prinic' is a hybrid perennial known for its double, golden-yellow fragrant flowers that bloom from March through April. This plant forms a clump about 1 foot tall and 16 inches wide, making it a charming addition to gardens that attract butterflies. It thrives in part sun to light shade and is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7.
Primula sieboldii 'Chubby One'
Primula sieboldii 'Chubby One' is a woodland plant that flowers in early April with compact clusters of white and pink flowers. It goes dormant in hot climates and prefers moist, well-drained soils, spreading modestly as a ground cover.
Primula polyantha 'Dawn Ansell'
Primula polyantha 'Dawn Ansell' is a hybrid primrose with double white flowers that bloom in March and April. It becomes semi-dormant in midsummer, with fresh foliage appearing in early fall. This plant thrives in bright shade or with a few hours of direct sun, preferring moist, well-drained soils.
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Nectarine'
Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Nectarine' forms evergreen clumps with double flowers that open golden orange and age to rosy orange. It prefers slightly moist, well-drained woodland conditions and can tolerate brief periods of drought. The plant is semi-dormant during midsummer, with new foliage appearing in early fall.
Primula vulgaris 'Sunshine Susie'
Primula vulgaris 'Sunshine Susie' is a selection known for its double bright yellow flowers and basal rosette of green foliage. It is heat- and drought-tolerant, becoming dormant in late summer and re-emerging in late winter. This plant prefers well-drained woodland soils and bright shade or a few hours of direct sun.
Primula vulgaris 'Corporal Baxter'
Primula vulgaris 'Corporal Baxter' is a long-lived English primrose with fully double, bright red flowers. It is heat and drought-tolerant, going dormant in late summer and re-emerging in late winter. This plant thrives in well-drained woodland soils and provides a showy floral display in spring.
Primula polyantha 'Wanda'
Primula polyantha 'Wanda' is a perennial with dramatic flowers in shades of purple and carmine. It grows best in rich woodland soil and tolerates brief droughts. This plant prefers bright shade or a few hours of direct sun and becomes semi-dormant during midsummer.
Primula sieboldii 'Fuji Snow'
Primula sieboldii 'Fuji Snow' is a woodland plant forming 2-foot wide clumps of serrated, spade-shaped light green leaves. It produces 10-inch tall stalks of pure white flowers in mid-spring, with blooms varying from white to pale pink to rich dark purple. This plant prefers moist, organically rich soils and goes dormant by late summer, making it a good companion for late-growing plants.
Primula polyantha 'Crescendo Mix'
Primula polyantha 'Crescendo Mix' is a hybrid primrose that brings vibrant summer color to gardens. It forms small rosettes of green foliage in early spring, followed by 6-10 inch stalks of quarter-sized flowers in a range of colors from purple to yellow, white, and red. This plant is ideal for use as a woodland mass or as a special accent in garden beds. It thrives in part sun to light shade and is known for attracting butterflies, making it a delightful addition to both sun and shade perennial gardens.
Primula sieboldii 'Seneca Star'
Primula sieboldii 'Seneca Star' is a woodland plant introduced in 2008, known for its slowly spreading patch of serrated green foliage. It features 8-inch tall stalks with purple-pink, deeply serrated petals and a central white band. The plant goes dormant in hot climates during summer and returns in late winter, flowering in spring. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and is a good companion for late-spring growth plants.
Primula sieboldii 'Drag Queen'
Primula sieboldii 'Drag Queen' is a woodland plant with serrated green foliage and large, lacy mauvy-lavender petals with a white central stripe. It goes dormant in hot climates during summer, returning in late winter to flower in spring. This primula thrives in moist, well-drained soils and is a good companion for late-growing plants like hostas. Its flowers vary in color, adding a dynamic element to shaded garden areas.
Primula 'Springtime'
Primula 'Springtime' is a hybrid group that includes P. veris, P. vulgaris, P. juliae, and P. elatior. This long-lived selection forms a large clump in woodland gardens and features large light pink flowers with yellow throats in early spring. It thrives in moist soil and light shade.
Primula polyantha 'Mahogany Sunrise'
Primula polyantha 'Mahogany Sunrise' is a hybrid primrose with quilted green leaves and 8-inch flower spikes in early spring. The dark mahogany flowers have a brilliant yellow center and edge. This plant is semi-dormant during midsummer and benefits from division in early fall. It thrives in bright shade or partial sun and requires moist, well-drained soil.
Primula kisoana var. shikokiana
Primula kisoana var. shikokiana is a rare and challenging primrose to cultivate, known for its stoloniferous, mat-forming habit in woodland gardens. It produces bright pink flowers atop 6-inch stems in late spring. The variety shikokiana is distinguished by its stems and leaves covered in small white hairs. This primrose thrives in light shade and is a unique addition to shaded garden areas, offering a delicate splash of color.
Primula 'Paragon'
Primula 'Paragon' is a hybrid primrose with double pink flowers that bloom from March to April. It prefers moist, rich woodland soils and is suitable for part sun to light shade.
Primula vulgaris 'Ken Dearman'
Primula vulgaris 'Ken Dearman' is a small clump-forming plant with double peachy-orange flowers that bloom in early spring. It prefers bright shade or a few hours of direct sun and thrives in moist, well-drained soils. The plant is summer dormant, re-emerging in early winter, and should be divided in early fall for best results.
Primula sieboldii 'Nankin Kozakura'
Primula sieboldii 'Nankin Kozakura' is a deciduous perennial known for its charming lavender flowers edged with white. It forms clumps and thrives in woodland settings with average to moist soils. This plant goes dormant by early summer and spreads at a modest rate, making it a good companion for late-spring plants. Its delicate blooms add a touch of elegance to shaded gardens.