Primula farinosa (Al)
bird's eye primrose
A rare, herbaceous perennial forming a rosette of narrowly oval or spoon-shaped dark green leaves with a silvery coating. Mauve-pink flowers with a yellow eye appear from mid-spring to early summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Pink | Green Grey Silver | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple Pink | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Primulaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Primula are herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials, forming a basal rosette of simple leaves, with salver-shaped or bell-shaped flowers which may be solitary or carried in an umbel or in whorls on an erect stem
- Name status
Correct
- Horticultural Group
- Farinosae section primulas are rosette-forming perennials, usually with powdery farina on the leaves or flower stems, with narrowly oblanceolate leaves and a simple umbel of lilac, pink or purple flowers with deeply notched corolla lobes
- Plant range
- Eurasia
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun or partial shade in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil
Propagation
Propagate by division in autumn or after flowering
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Wildflower meadow
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, vine weevil, slugs, leaf and bud eelworms, leaf-mining flies and glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
May be susceptible to primula leaf spot, primula brown core and grey moulds
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.