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Herbaceous Perennial

Primula 'Rhubarb and Custard' (Pr/Poly)

primrose 'Rhubarb and Custard'

A rosette-forming semi-evergreen perennial with green leaves and clusters of orange-yellow flowers with pink frilly edges which appear in the from January to April

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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: Accepted
Horticultural Group: Polyanthus group primulas are rosette-forming perennials with umbels of salver-shaped flowers. They are usually grown as biennials by sowing seed in summer and planting out in autumn for flowers in winter and spring.

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, leafhoppers, vine weevil and slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds, primula brown core, primula leaf spot and a virus

Get involved

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