(PRIM-yew-luh  ee-LAY-tee-or)

General Information:

Primulas are great garden plants for part shade and Primula elatior ssp pallasii is one of the best. I normally do not care for pale coloured flowers, but the light yellow of this one, combined with its early flowering, makes it stand out in the garden. It is a real gem that seems easy to grow.

Primula elatior ssp pallasii:photo by Robert Pavlis

Primula elatior is also known as the oxlip primula. It is similar to the more popular Primula veris, the cowslip, but the oxlip has flowers that all face in one direction. Primula veris tends to have bright yellow or red flowers. If you find a plant that has pale yellow flowers that face in all directions it may be the natural hybrid between these two, commonly called the false oxlip.

There are a number of subspecies of Primula elatior, and P. e. ssp pallasii can be identified by it’s glabrous (hairless) leaves. 

Most primulas are easily grown from seed, even though the seed is very small. I usually add the seed on top of the seedling mix and cover with a very thin layer of chick grit. Germination rates are usually high.

Plants form offsets and slowly grow into a larger clump. At this point they can be dug up, divided and each piece can be planted separately. This can be done in very early spring or after flowering. Keep them well watered until they have established themselves. They seem to do better with regular division.

Primula elatior ssp pallasii:photo by Robert Pavlis

The one pictured here was planted under a sugar maple in fairly heavy shade and it did well there. The tree has now been removed and they are in full sun and quite dry. They are still doing well, but tend to grow smaller leaves and go underground sooner. In a wetter, part shade location they would do better and stay green all summer long.  

Life Cycle: perennial

Height: 20cm (8in)

Bloom Time: early spring

Natural Range: Russia

Habitat: damp woodland conditions and woodland edges

Synonyms:  Primula pallasii

Cultivation:

Light: full sun to part shade

Soil: variable, prefers humusy soil

Water: prefers damp woodland conditions, but will grow drier

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 9

Propagation: seed, division

Seedex availability (ORG&HPS annual Seed Exchange): occasionally

 (PRIM-yew-lah den-tik-yoo-LAH-tuh)

General Information:

Primula, also known as a Primrose, is a sure sign of spring. Grocery stores and nurseries sell them by the millions. If you have tried growing these same plants in your northern zone gardens you were probably disappointed. The commonly sold Primrose has not been bred for the garden and just doesn’t do well in our climate. But there are many primulas that grow extremely well in the garden and Primula denticulata, the drumstick primula, is one of the easiest and showiest to grow.

Primula denticulata; photo by Robert Pavlis

Primula denticulata blooms very early in spring with buds starting to show just as the snow drops are finishing. Over a period of several weeks the spherical flower heads get taller and larger as the flowers fully develop. What a show they put on! Flowers come in white, pink, mauve, blue and rosy-red on top of 30 cm (12 in) stems.  

The leaves are a light green color and form a rosette near the ground. This primula grows best in a moist location and if it gets enough water the leaves will stay green all summer. In drier locations the leaves will die back by mid-summer and the plant goes dormant until next spring.

Primula denticulata; photos by Robert Pavlis

Primula denticulata is not very common in nurseries, but you will find it with a bit of searching. They are very easy to grow from seed and will bloom in their second year. A mature plant benefits from a fall division every few years.

If you are ever in Juneau Alaska stop by the Jensen-Olson Arboretum which specializes in collecting primula and claims to have “the largest documented collection of Primula this side if the Atlantic”.

Life Cycle: perennial

Height: flower 30 cm (12in), leaves 15cm (6in)

Bloom Time: earlyspring

Natural Range: Eastern Afganistan, Pakistan and China

Habitat: open woods and meadows in moist ground

Synonyms: none. 

Cultivation:

Light: part shade to full shade

Soil: prefers humus rich moist soil, but not too fussy

Water: moist or wet

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9

Propagation: seed, division in fall

Seedex availability (ORG&HPS annual Seed Exchange): frequently

 (ty-the-YOO-muh  SHOYK-ser-ee)

General Information:

Phyteuma scheuchzeri  is an unusual, easy to grow rock garden plant, with a bizarre flower. It is a close relative of the bellflower but does not look anything like it. I think the flowers look more like an allium. The flower head consists of a number of flowers all opening at the same time. Each flower is quite spiky in appearance, creating a big spiky ball of rich blue colour.

Phyteuma scheuchzeri in full sun; photo by Robert Pavlis

The rampion  is native to the mountains of Europe and is also commonly called Oxford rampion and horned rampion.

It grows easily from seed and forms a nice compact clump. I have it growing in both full sun and part shade and it seems to like both conditions. It will be shorter with more light and less water.

The plant is rated to zone 5, but it has overwintered in a raised trough during 2013 and 2014 – two very cold winters for zone 5. I’d expect it to survive zone 4.

Phyteuma scheuchzeri; photo by Robert Pavlis

Phyteuma scheuchzeri, older plant in part shade; photo by Robert Pavlis

Life Cycle: perennial

Height: 30cm (1ft)

Bloom Time: mid-summer

Natural Range: Europe

Habitat: rocky mountains

Synonyms:  Phyteuma ovatum, Phyteuma corniculatum, Rapunculus scheuchzeri

Cultivation:

Light: full sun to part shade

Soil: moist to well drained

Water: regular moisture

USDA Hardiness Zone: (4?) 5 – 8

Propagation: seed, division

Seedex availability (ORG&HPS annual Seed Exchange): usually