Japanese Primrose
Primula japonica. PRIMULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Japanese Primrose
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Japanese primrose in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Japanese primrose
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Japanese primrose
- Season of bloom and planting time for Japanese primrose
- When, how deep, and where to plant Japanese primrose
- How to plant Japanese primrose
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of Japanese primrose
- Landscape and container uses of Japanese primrose
- Comments about Japanese primrose and its features
Growing Japanese Primrose
Many cultivars of erect, mounding, deciduous perennial herbs, 6–30 in. (15–75 cm) tall, 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) wide. Smooth or textured, pale green, round or oval leaves, 7–9 in. (18–23 cm) wide, forming a circular, radiating base.
See also English Primrose, Primula X polyantha and Primula vulgaris, varied hybrids of half-hardy perennials or semi-annual herbs closely related to Japanese primrose and with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, pink, red, white, open, deep-throated flowers, to 1 in. (25 mm) wide, in whorled clusters surrounding tall, fleshy or woody stalks, in spring–early summer.
Best Climates
Semi-hardy. Self-seeding. Plant as annual, zones 3–5; ground hardy, zones 6–8. Best in cool-summer climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam or, in water features, shoreline sites. Fertility: Average–low. 6.0–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 6–12 in. (15–30 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead spent flowers to promote new buds. Protect from heat. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for borders, edgings, ground covers in natural, shade, woodland gardens and water feature shorelines. Disease resistant. Slug, snail susceptible.