Roundish clusters of violet purple-blue flowers, dusted in farina, open during late spring and early summer on thin stems above low rosette of powdery, grey-green, very crinkly leaves. This lovely species from Sikkim is best grown in a shaded, moist soil, and is perfect for a moist rock garden or beside a stream or pond. ... Learn More

One of the finest alpine primulas, whorls of pure white, fragrant, waxy flowers are arranged in layers from the top of the stems, and these open in succession as the stem elongates upwards. The strong basal rosette is formed from long, smooth, farinose grey leaves. An elegant and lovely plant in a shaded rock garden or peat bed. ... Learn More

This is the extremely beautiful mauve form of this plant and one of the finest alpine primulas, whorls of farinose, fragrant, waxy flowers are arranged in layers from the top of the stems, and these open in succession as the stem elongates upwards. The strong basal rosette is formed from long, smooth, farinose grey leaves. An elegant and lovely plant in a shaded rock garden or peat bed. ... Learn More

In early summer, this fabulous plant bears stout stems carrying tiered whorls of bright orange flowers above rosettes of toothed leaves 2½ ft. From marshy places in Himalayan forests as high as 10,500 ft, this is probably the most dazzling of all of the orange-flowered candelabra style primulas. ... Learn More

The is seed collected from the true British "Oxlip", now exremely rare in the wild. It is superficially like a cowslip but with larger, orange-throated, fragrant pale lemon flowers. ... Learn More

In the wild this lovely primrose thrives on grazed meadows rich in lime and moisture. It has massed heads of fragrant lavender flowers on thin Primula farinosa has an interesting distribution in that it is not too difficult to find in the limestone areas which are in a band across northern England (Lancashire and Yorkshire mainly) but it is absent form the rest of England, and the whole of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The odd record here and there corresponds to garden escapes but it is native only in this relatively small region of northern England. ... Learn More

Spikes of powdered, pale blue bells arise from compact clumps of hairy leaves, and surprisingly, it is very adaptable to our lowland gardens. One of the most delicate, beautiful and fragrant of all primulas, this gem lives at higher than 10,000 feet in the Himalaya. ... Learn More

The "Giant Himalayan Cowslip" bears large rounded leaves and stout stems carrying immense heads of fragrant flowers which are usually yellow but very occasionally red or orange. This is almost certainly the biggest primula there is and in a damp soil will make impressive, self-seeding clumps! ... Learn More

Large round leaves and strong, stout stems carry immense heads of fragrant orange flowers instead of the more usual yellow ones. This is almost certainly the biggest primula there is! ... Learn More

Slightly similar in appearance to Primula farinosa, this delicate plant bears in spring and summer umbels of mauve-pink flowers with yellow centres that are held on upright stems. The silvery leaves are covered in white powder, or farina. Like all members of this group, it requires consistently moist soil to thrive, although overall, it is one of the easiest 'farinosae' type primulas to grow in the garden. It is native to central Bulgaria where it grows on limestone rocks near streams at an elevation of 900-2000 m. ... Learn More

In May, on top of farina dusted stems, this rare curiosity opens clusters of narrow, hanging, pale yellow flowers, whose slender petals do not open out at all, but just hover like frozen exploding fireworks! Endemic to the north and west Caucasus, this is probably the most unusual of all primulas, having flowers like no other, and indeed at one time it was believed to belong in another monotypic genus, but modern genetic analysis has proved that it does indeed belong in the genus Primula. It is another ideal plant for stumping would-be experts! ... Learn More

This European species has very long, narrow tubes holding the bright, lilac-pink flowers, which open in clusters on long stems. They do well on the rock garden as long as they have some shade and it does not dry out, although they are probably safer in a shady, humus-rich spot. (Section farinosae) ... Learn More

This selection of the vigorous Primula japonica opens layered whorls of red-eyed, pale pink flowers in late spring and early summer, all above strong leafy rosettes of toothed leaves. Additionally, it usually flowers again in the autumn when it is established. It is one of the only candelabra primulas that will not only survive, but indeed thrive, in the average garden situation, as long as it it does not completely dry out. And if it does they invariably recover when they are finally watered again. ... Learn More

These lovely candelabra-type plants shoot up numerous strong stems bearing tiers of deepest crimson flowers. The basal rosettes make the most spectacular, cabbage-like giants when well fed or in moist soil, and being bone hardy they increase in size yearly and will even self-seed, but never ever become a problem. ... Learn More

This is an especially generous packet of these lovely candelabra-type plants that shoot up numerous strong stems bearing tiers of blossoms in all colours from white to red. The basal rosettes make the most spectacular, cabbage-like giants when well-fed or in moist soil. Being bone hardy they increase in size yearly and will even self-seed, but never ever become a problem. ... Learn More