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Mystery Spring Flowering Plant

NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 729
in Plants
Can anybody help me ID this plant?
I was gifted it at the weekend but unfortunately the person who gave me it couldn’t remember its name … they described it as spring flowering and completely dies back after it’s flowered until the next spring comes around. 

The leaves look very similar to a Primula dodecatheon that I have but I’d like to know if anyone else thinks it could be something else? 
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  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited April 2023


     Leaves certainly looks like Primula dodecatheon.
    That is one huge healthy plant...a fab, very generous gift.
    Quote from link below...

    "Primula dodecatheon

    Only recently reclassified as a species of primula, these lovely plants are also known as 'Shooting stars'. "

    https://www.barnhaven.com/alpine-primula/alpine-species/primula-dodecatheon/

    You will soon find out when it flowers.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    Agree flowers then disappears. I would put a label where you plant it so you know where it is, it will stop any damage whilst dormant.First time I have seen a white a native primula.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 729
    Thanks for your responses. I already have the purple flowering variety in a terracotta pot so we will see if this is the same colour when it flowers (impatiently waiting 🤣) it would be nice if it is the white one but we will see 🤞🏻 😊
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    It should be the pink variety.  You can see the subtle pink veins on the base of the stems. I know it as Dodecatheon pulchellum, or Shooting Stars.  It is my favourite plant in our garden.  

    Ours are just about to flower too. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What a lovely plant. Never grown that. Not too dissimilar to some Erythroniums. I have some lemon ones of those which were a present from a late member of the forum. Just getting their buds now. I think of her every year when they flower  :)
    A beautiful gift to get,  as @Silver surfer says.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited April 2023
    :KeenOnGreen said:
    It should be the pink variety.  You can see the subtle pink veins on the base of the stems. I know it as Dodecatheon pulchellum, or Shooting Stars.  

    GardenerSuze said:First time I have seen a white a native primula.


    Just to clarify.

    Sorry Suze, but they are not native to UK...they come from North America and Siberia.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primula_sect._Dodecatheon

    My white flowered pics above just happened to be the 1st  pics I found.

    Dodecatheon pulchellum  and Dodecatheon media are  the name of the common ones that I know   ..but that has now apparently changed.

    There are other colours and other sp.

    Below.
    1. Dodecatheon?
    2. Dodecatheon frigidum
    3. Dodecatheon  alpinum.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Hi @Silversurfer I had always believed them to be native. However that would explain why I have never seen them growing wild. Lovely photos thankyou.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    These botanists don't half muck us poor gardeners about!  Dodecathon will never, neverrr, be a primula to me.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Know what you mean, it looks like a cyclamen. 
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited April 2023



    Hi @Silversurfer I had always believed them to be native. However that would explain why I have never seen them growing wild. 
    ============================================


     Hi Suze, There is a white primrose.
    Primula Gigha. (Primula vulgaris Gigha)
    see  pics 3,4,5 below

    Gigha is a wonderful tiny island on the West coast of Scotland... Just seven miles long by a mile and a half wide,.......to be recommended!

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Isle+of+Gigha&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixybqdmqn-AhURF8AKHVjSD5kQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5


    In SRGC Mr and Mrs Almond have a fab one...no official name ..so just known as Primula Almond.
    They very generously gave me one...still just a baby.
    See pic 1 and 2


    Primula Gigha.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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