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Photo by Stan Shebs

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Primula florindae

Also Known As

Tibetan Summer Bells
Tibetian Primrose

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 2'-4'
W: 1'-2'

planting zones

6a-9b

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Primula florindae plant details

A fantastic unusual a primrose, one of the biggest, with multiple 2-3 foot(!!!) stems holding fragrant globes of nodding buttery yellow flowers in summer. The rosettes of serrated leaves hug the ground, unbothered by slugs and snails. Provide a rich, moist, lightly shaded spot in the ground or in a container, where you can often appreciate the nutmeg fragrance.

Primula florindae is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In spring yellow flowers emerge. Attracts bees and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with bright shade - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Primula florindae

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: primulaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 1 FT - 2 FT - wide, 2 FT - 4 FT - tall
Flowers: yellow blooms in spring
Uses: cutting garden, dangling flowers, fragrant, nutmeg-scented, rare, unique, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Primula florindae

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: snail / slug, humidity and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Sometimes I forget to stop and smell the roses. Or the primula in this case. I had just set up my booth in mid June at the Van Dusen Garden Show. I could smell this gorgeous sweet fragrance and thought it was coming from the gardens. On the first day of the show a customer walked into our booth, smelled the Primula florindae on our table and said: "I just love this fragrance!" And I said "Oh yes. Isn't it wonderful!" Sweetly fragrant, citron-yellow bells. Flowers in June and July. Loves moisture.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

They grow things BIG in Tibet! Multiple stems on this sweetheart tower 2-3’ topped with butter yellow flowers with a wonderful nutmeg fragrance in June & July. Give this light shade, rich soil that does not dry out and the deciduous rosettes will multiply to a jaw dropping colony. A vigorous selection that is known for its longevity (must be all the oooo-ming). Slugs and snails don’t like it!

By: Secret Garden Growers

This long-lived, robust native of shady Tibetan bogs boasts some of the largest flowers in the family. From a mound of serrated leaves, older mature plants display as many as 80 citron-colored flowers per umbel on tall stems, creating a virtual festival of fragrance.

By: Digging Dog Nursery

Sadly unknown by most gardeners, “Tibetan Summer Bells” is a personal favorite of ours. A long-lived, vigorous species not bothered by snails, this delightfully fragrant Primula loves our cool coastal climate. It’s deciduous and rather late to emerge in Spring, making large, flattish rosettes that spread to 2’ wide with age. In June & July, it throws up 5 - 30 stalks up to 3’ tall, topped by large heads of nodding, fragrant flowers. The colors in this mix range from red to yellow. “Tibetan Summer Bells” prefer bright shade & moist, rich soil. They don’t like to dry out. Truly wonderful for the shady garden, near a water feature or in a container (at least 12” across.)

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

I think the clean, sweet scent of these lemon yellow pendent flowers is like fresh nutmeg. One of the largest species in the genus Primrose, growing over 2' tall.