Primula elatior: family Primulaceae is a plant I’ve been trialling for a few seasons now and currently featuring on the analysis of the Hort Week Website for Parks and Gardens.
Primula elatior, family: Primulaceae (Oxlip) closely related to Primula veris (Cowslip) thrives in nutrient – poor calcium rich soil, its wild setting being that of damp woods and meadows. The True Oxlip, being a native wildflower in the UK, widespread throughout Europe, particularly confined in the UK within East Anglia.
At the Lakeside garden it forms part of a planting area being developed for customer appreciation, thriving in a semi shaded spot being its preference, cast from a Topiary Beech hedge. Primula elatior is a reliable performer working well in pots and hanging baskets, and a great companion plant is Muscari (blue Grape Hyacinth) which gives a wonderful, orchestrated effect.
The foliage holds well on Primula elatior from February – November, with the slightly scented yellow flowers dazzling at their best from mid-March into May. Impressive displays can also be created in patio pots and spring hanging basket displays.
Primula – elatior will tolerate a wide selection of soils from chalk, clay, loam, and sand – Alkaline, Acidic, or Neutral. This gem of a spring flower holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, and it’s hardy down to -15 – 20° C.
My choice selection first and foremost for Parks and Gardens is the value for attracting wildlife, the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other spring insects.
Since I’ve planted this Primula at the Lakeside garden it’s filling out nicely each season, the height and spread being 10 – 50 cm spread × 10- 50cm height.
It’s a great selection too for rockery areas, and since I’ve inherited a more unusual semi shaded rockery, I’ll be dividing plants this autumn to incorporate within that feature which will compliment displays of semi shaded alpine and rockery plants.
Primula elatior is generally characterised by the scented soft yellow flowers, the perianth often features a darker yellow eye/ orange centre which are the form of the modern cultivated hybrids, as are those being planted at the Lakeside garden.
I’m currently expecting a delivery of Primula elatior from our wholesale supplier of plants in 15cm pots, this will enable me to continue the spring planting work at the Lakeside Garden.
*Some Morphology of Primula elatior-
The fragrant flowers are 9 – 15mm width with the inflorescence forming a cluster/ umbel of 10 – 30 flowers / fewer arranged, Secund (1 sided) the calyx comprises very distinct dark green mid ribs. The petals/ corolla are funnel shaped with 5 lobes which are a darker yellow, sometimes slightly orange with a star shaped centre. The leaf blades are approximately 5 – 15 cm long x 2- 6 cm width, sharply toothed with a dentate margin.
Kevin Line is Head Gardener/ Horticulturist, Lakeside Garden, Cumbria.
Member of Professional Gardeners ‘Guild, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland since 2020.
