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Japanese Primula Wikimedia Commons
Primulaceae

Japanese Primula

Primula japonica

Tiered beauty and streamside serenity.

Family
Primulaceae
Genus
Primula
Native to
Japan
Bloom season
Late Spring, Early Summer
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
30–60 cm
Sunlight
part shade
Soil
moist, humus-rich, boggy
Water
high
Hardiness
4–8
Lifespan
short-lived perennial; self-sows freely

Did you know

  • Flowers are arranged in distinct tiers (candelabra whorls) stacked along the stem, giving the group its common name 'candelabra primrose.'
  • It naturalizes beautifully along stream banks, where it can form vast drifts of color in late spring.
  • Japanese primula was introduced to British gardens in 1871 and quickly became a bog-garden favorite.
  • The species self-seeds so readily that a single plant can colonize an entire wet meadow within a few years.
  • It is one of the few primroses that thrives in standing water, making it ideal for pond margins.

Color meanings

Pink

layered affection

Magenta

vivid joy

White

serene purity

Red

cascading passion

Uses

  • bog gardens
  • stream bank planting
  • woodland gardens
  • naturalizing in moist meadows