Drumstick primula

Primula denticulata

Drumstick primula is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, acid soil or moist ground, flowering Mar, Apr, May.

Where to use it in a border

At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 4a to 8b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Drumstick primula's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
• It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Carolina Lilyfor height behind it
• Common Honeysucklefor height behind it
• Common Yellow Azaleafor height behind it
• Crocusto flower when it does not
• Crocus 'Cream Beauty'to edge in front
• Drummond's Onionto edge in front

Garden styles

Cottage garden Wildlife garden Woodland