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Primula Japonica

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
in Plants
Is Primula Japonica an easy plant to grow?  Does anyone have any spare seeds of this plant available?
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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    easy if enough moisture I think. not here :( 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    No seeds I'm afraid, but I do like 'Miller's Crimson'...  it doesn't like drought and will quickly shrivel up if it gets too dry... that usually happens after it's flowered though in my garden... but easily remedied..


    East Anglia, England
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hello @Guernsey Donkey2,

    They are great plants for a dampish spot ..... I bought just one plant about five years ago and now have about 40. They are very easy from seed ... BUT the seeds need to be sown when fresh and green. They are also easy to spilt up to get more plants.

    Be worth you finding a colour you like, and just buy one plant ... you'll soon have a lovely drift.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Thanks for all the replies and picture of Miller's Crimson. It would seem that I have to supply damp conditions for them to thrive, and I feel that our garden is too dry.  In the past I have tried Vivaldi, Drumstick and a couple of other varieties of Primula but all have died within a year or so.  I am beginning to wonder if this garden doesn't give the right conditions for this family of plants, even though we spend time watering most days.  Primulas are one of my favourite plants - so many varieties and colours, so not easy to admit defeat.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’ve got several seedlings already potted on from last year’s seeds, but as said before, they need to be planted green, straight off the plant, I can save some for you this year.
    just lay them on top of damp compost don’t cover, every one a winner😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2019
    What about making a sort of bog garden ... some primulas are very happy in those conditions ... we grow candelabras as marginal plants with their feet actually in the edge of our wildlife pond ... they perform really well  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Drumstick prims are more tolerant of dry than most.
    A couple have self seeded into my rockery bank, which faces south and gets full sun whenever we get any ;)
    Not a place I would have chosen for it, but, though it flags badly on hot days, it seems to carry on regardless!
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    You are all very encouraging, and I am sorely tempted to try growing some - perhaps as you suggest Dove, I will try to get hold of one or two established plants and grow them in the bog garden - we already have  hosta, astilbe and rheum growing in it, so the primula Japonica should find it to their liking......thank you for your kind offer Lyn, could I take you up on it please?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Will do GD. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2019
    It’s a shame you’re so far away @Guernsey Donkey2 ... you’ll love this place, just down the road from here 
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairhaven_Woodland_and_Water_Garden
    ... acres and acres of primulas  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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