Sunshine Farm and Gardens: Rare and Exceptional Plants
Sunshine Farm and Gardens
Rare and Exceptional Plants for the
Discriminating Gardener and Collector

Home : Glick Pick Archives


` Primula japonica
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 japonicaP.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

Back to top

| Home | About Us | Specials | Plant List | Focus on Hellebores | Garden Tours |
| Lectures and Workshops | Glick Picks | Ordering | Request Info | Email Barry |

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