Primula farinosa
Primrose, Bird's eye primrose
- Height × spread
- 0.25m × 0.1m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The flowers appear in mid-spring and are held on pale green stalks well above the foliage. This is rather meagre, making a splayed rosette of long light green leaves, often covered with farinose. (see below). The flower head consists of a broad dome packed with individual primrose flowers. These are coloured a mauve-hued shade of light pink with a white eye at their centre. This grows naturally in pasture at altitude, and the plant can be coarser if treated too well under domestication. It is, in any case, a short-lived perennial. This is often grown in a protected greenhouse or specialist alpine-house. General care: Farinose is a curious grainy powder-like substance that the plant develops to protect its foliage.
- Flower colour
- Mauve, Pink, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.25m
- Spread
- 0.1m
- Season of interest
- Spring
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with sequestrol
If plants are acid loving and grown in soil with little acidity, or in a container, or are watered with limey tap water an annual feed with sequestrol (iron chelate) is highly beneficial. Follow guidelines on the packet. Will also 'blue-up' hydrangeas.
For hydrangeas that have good blue flowers in acid soil, this product can be used with alkaline soil to turn the flowers blue. This is most effective when the soil is neutral or just slightkly alkaline.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
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