Sunshine Farm and Gardens
Rare and Exceptional Plants for the
Discriminating Gardener and Collector
Discriminating Gardener and Collector
|
|
Sunshine Farm and Gardens
Rare and Exceptional Plants for the
Discriminating Gardener and Collector |
| ` | Primula japonica |
Click to enlarge |
Ahhhh, there's nothing like a colony of Japanese
Primroses to bring color to and brighten up a shady
area. Here's a plant, that given the right
conditions, will bloom in a multitude of shades from
pure white to deep red in early to mid Summer. By the
right conditions, I mean a cool, moist root
run. They are native to sometimes soggy areas in
Japan, but do well in a shady, well mulched
border in just about any climate. The tall spikes of flowers start as tight little buds in the center of the plant. Somehow, as if by magic, they start elongating over a period of weeks until there are several concentric rings or whorls of flowers - some blooming, some in bud and some setting seed. They resemble candelabras of sorts and so they have become known as "The Candelabra Primrose" The Primulaceae family is broken up into sections and the PROLIFERAE section is home to the "Candelabra Primroses", and includes many species such as Primula japonica, P.beesiana, P.bulleyana, P.x bullesiana (cross between P.beesiana + P.bulleyana), P.burmanica, P.pulverulenta among others. In late Autumn as it descends into its dormancy, the large crinkled leaves decompose and the plant reverts back to a tight little resting clump. In early Spring the clump awakens and sends up its new leaves. At this time you can dig up the plant and divide it. The rapidly growing roots are almost pure white. Primula japonica will self sow into a spectacular colony if left to its own devices. The seeds are produced in copious quantity and are almost dustlike. There are two very famous selections, P. j 'Miller's Crimson', a deep crimson color and P. j. 'Postford White' a pure and brilliant white. Just the facts M'am: Kingdom - Plantae - Plants Subkingdom - Tracheobionta - Vascular plants Superdivision - Spermatophyta - Seed plants Division - Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants Class - Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons Subclass - Dilleniidae Order - Primulales Family - Primulaceae Genus - Primula Species - japonica Common name - genus - "Primrose" Common name - species - Japanese Primrose" Japanese name - Kurin-sou Synonyms - none that I could find Native of - Japan USDA Hardiness Zone - zone 5, maybe 4? Light preference - Full shade to light shade Soil preference - Rich in organic matter Moisture preference - Moist to average Bloom time - Early Summer Bloom color - White to red and every in between shade Foliage - Medium green, large and crinkley Spread - 8" -12" Height - 12" - 36" Landscape uses - Along a stream or in the middle of a cool shady border Medicinal uses - none that I have found The complete set of "Glick Pick of the Week" back issues are now available on line at http://www.sunfarm.com/picks Also, if you're getting more than one copy of this weekly mailing, or would like to subscribe a friend, or for some crazy reason, to unsubscribe, let me know. © 2001 Barry Glick and Sunshine Farm & Gardens |
Copyright © Barry Glick 1996-2024. All Rights Reserved.
Barry Glick, Sunshine Farm and Gardens
696 Glicks Rd, Renick, WV 24966, USA
Phone: (304) 497-2208
E-mail: barry@sunfarm.com
Last modified February 25, 2020
URL: https://www.sunfarm.com/picks/primulajaponicapostfordwhite-020155.phtml