Orchid primrose
Primula vialii
Orchid primrose is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, acid soil or moist ground, flowering Jun, Jul.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 45 cm |
| Spread | 30 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-8b, RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 45 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 5a to 8b and rated H5 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 Orchid primrose'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