Primula denticulata
drumstick primrose
primulaceaeSpherical umbels of lavender, pink, or
white flowers on 12-in. scapes; long, oval
basal leaves
8–12 in. high; 12 in. wide
Part shade
Blooms March–April
Zones 4–7
pruning Flowers arise very early
from winter-dormant aboveground
buds. Deadheading will not result inadditional blooms and will prevent
self-sowing, which most gardeners
would appreciate from this lovely
species. The frost-resistant foliage is
evergreen in mild climates; wait until
late winter to tidy up clumps if the
leaves are still decent at fall cleanup
time.
other maintenance Like most
primroses, drumstick primrose prefers
areas with moderate summer tem-
peratures, but this species is more
adaptable in this respect than many.
Plant it out of direct sun in soil
enriched with lots of organic matter—
ideally near a pond or other water
source where the ground remains
constantly damp. Cover plants with
evergreen boughs or some kind of
noncompactable cover in the winter in
the colder parts of its range where
snow cover is iffy. This primrose does
need a cold period in order to bloom,
but the buds—exposed as they
are—may be damaged by extreme cold
snaps without protection. Divide
plants after flowering every few years
to keep them vigorous, or allow
seedlings to take the place of declining
plants.Primula japonica
Japanese primrose
primulaceae
Tiers of pink or white flowers on 1- to 2-ft.
stems; bold basal foliage like romaine
lettuce
12–24 in. high; 18–24 in. wide
Part shade
Blooms May–June
Zones 5–7
pruning Japanese primrose
self-sows when content, so leave spent
flower stalks standing unless seeding
becomes a nuisance. Remove any
yellowed foliage at the end of the
season. A small rosette of
semi-evergreen foliage may remain
throughout the winter in mild-climate
areas.
other maintenance Grow
Japanese primrose in constantly moist
soil, such as near a stream or in a
well-mulched border with regularPrimula denticulata