Types of primroses: the most beautiful species at a glance

Primroses colourfully usher in the garden year. But not all primroses are the same. We showcase the diversity of primrose species and explain the differences.

The English primrose (Primula vulgaris) is the best-selling primrose species and is the first sign of spring with its friendly appearance. But the genus of primroses is much more diverse. We have selected 11 particularly pretty and diverse primrose species to give you a glimpse of an unimagined range of forms, as well as flower colours and shapes.

Primrose species: How many are there and where do they come from?

The natural ranges of primrose species (Primula) are found almost throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Some species have adapted to living in mountainous regions. These alpine primroses almost always exhibit a pink, red-violet to blue-violet flower, as this is particularly attractive to pollinators of the mountain regions. Most non-alpine species, on the other hand, have yellow flowers. Of the total of about 500 species of primrose, we would like to introduce you to 11 of the most beautiful primrose species below.

The most beautiful primrose species

The various species differ not only in flower colour but also in flowering time, growth height and shape. The usually 2 to 25 inflorescences per flowerhead, which are arranged as umbels or whorls, can be simple, double or even ruffled. If you combine different species of primrose, you can enjoy the flowers from January to July.

Alpine auricula (Primula auricula)

The alpine wild primrose species Primula auricula is a now rare resident of the limestone Alps. It grows about 5 to 25 cm high and blooms between April and June. It forms thick-fleshed, smooth, hairy leaves and is the only alpine primrose species to show bright yellow and also fragrant flowers. Perennial alpine auricula likes well-drained, calcareous soils in off-sun to partial shade.

German primrose or poison primrose (Primula obconica)

The German primrose, which is hardy down to -5 °C, is a perennial, but should spend the winter indoors. It grows to a height of about 5 to 25 cm and, depending on the variety, can start flowering in any month of the year. The umbel-like flowers can be white, pink or light purple in colour. There are varieties with ruffled, double or single flowers. The German primrose can also be kept year-around as a houseplant. The fine hairs on leaves and stems release a toxin called primin when touched. As a result, contact allergies and skin rashes may occur, making it especially important to wear gloves when handling Primula obconica, also known as poison primrose.

Cowslip primrose (Primula veris)

Cowslip or common cowslip is a native perennial with a growth height of 10 to 20 cm. The small, fragrant flowers, which are tubular at the base, sit on upright, thick flower stalks. On warm spring days between April and May, bumblebees in particular visit the numerous delicate flowers. Its dark green leaves are wrinkled and oval-around in shape, with the leaf margin curled downward. Cowslip prefers neutral to calcareous, dry to fresh, humus-rich and well-drained soils. Unlike many other primrose species, cowslip thrives in full sun. In addition to the exclusively light-yellow flowering wild forms, red-flowering varieties such as ‘Rote Töne’ are also available.

Candelabra primroses (Primula beesiana, Primula japonica and Primula bullesiana hybrid)

Plants of the species Primula japonica and Primula beesiana as well as Primula bullesiana x beesiana hybrids are known as candelabra primroses. The upright, tufted growing perennials reach 30 to 60 cm in height of growth, in exceptional cases even around 100 cm. Candelabra primroses form long flower stalks with whorls of pink, purple, yellow, white or orange-red flowers blooming in tiers. However, the hybrids in particular are not particularly long-lived; they reproduce by self-seeding in suitable fresh to moist, humus-rich sites. Candelabra primroses bloom late in the year from June to August. Popular Primula japonica varieties include ‘Appleblossom’ and the red-flowered ‘Millers Crimson’.

Fairy primrose (Primula malacoides)

Growing 30 to 45 cm tall, this perennial fairy primrose or baby primrose is native to China and Myanmar. It is an ornamental plant mostly cultivated as an annual in our country, but can be overwintered frost-free indoors. The white or pink to lavender flowers sit loosely on long flower stalks. The fairy primrose flowers from December to March thanks to its cultivation in a cold house. Sow the primrose species itself in the autumn on a bright windowsill at about 10-15 ° C, then flowering begins later in March. During the winter months, it is placed as a houseplant in an off-sun to partial shade location and can be moved outdoors to a cool location beginning in April. However, you should protect them well from late frost.

Oxlip (Primula elatior)

The oxlip or true oxlip is a perennial primrose species native to our area, found in forests. The perennial reaches growth heights of 10 to 30 cm and displays its umbel-shaped, light yellow flowers with a sunny yellow centre between March and May. The oxlip is best suited for underplanting of woody plants and at forest edges. It spreads itself by sowing. The ideal location is partial shade to off-sun in fresh to moist, loamy-humic soils. The striking golden fringed primrose is a Primula elatior hybrid. The dark petals of varieties like ‘Gold Lace’ are edged in light to golden yellow, creating an exciting contrast.

Common primrose (Primula vulgaris)

The native perennial common primrose is hardy and reaches a growth height of 10 to 15 cm. It has an extremely short flower stalk and close-fitting, large, sunny yellow to light yellow, but also purple and pink flowers. The common primrose spreads by self-seeding and forms extensive, loose clumps in the appropriate location.Primula vulgaris prefers partial shade to light shade on humus-rich soils. It tolerates summer drought well and is ideal for underplanting woody plants and deciduous trees.

Drumstrick primrose (Primula denticulata)

The hardy drumstick primrose grows about 15 to 30 cm high and blooms between March and May. It forms spherical around flowerheads of numerous single unfilled flowers on long, hairy stems. The basal leaves appear only when the drumstick primrose is in full bloom. The flower colour ranges between white, pink and blue-violet, depending on the variety. The drumstick primrose prefers fresh to moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade. Popular drumstick primrose varieties include ‘Alba’, ‘Grandiflora’ or ‘Ruby’.

Vial’s primrose (Primula vialii)

Perennial hardy Vial’s primrose comes from China and grows about 30 cm high. The exotic-looking primrose species blooms between May and July. Numerous tiny, reddish-purple flowers sit all around on long stems as if arranged in narrow cobs in deep red calyxes. The usually rather short-lived orchid primrose prefers low-calcium, well-drained, fresh and humus-rich soils in partial shade. The primrose variety ‘Red Hot Poker’ has particularly large flowerheads.

Rosy primrose (Primula rosea)

The rosy primrose a hardy perennial species with a growth height of about 20 cm. It originates from Kashmir and Afghanistan. The cold-sensitive flowers are susceptible to late frost, appear from March and are invariably pink to raspberry red in colour. Hence the allusion of the name to the rose (Rosa sp.). The flowers, which sit on long stems and are grouped together as a loose cluster, appear before the foliage. Rosy primrose is ideal for planting in wet soils, as it requires moist to boggy, loamy-sandy soils in sunny to partial shade.

Julia’s primroses (Primula juliae)

The low Julia’s primrose originates from the Caucasus, grows just 5 to 10 cm high and is particularly suitable as a ground cover. The perennial hardy perennial blooms as early as February to April. It produces large, solitary purple-red to mauve-blue flowers with yellow centres. Julia’s primroses prefer a well-drained, moist but never waterlogged soil with acidic to neutral pH in partial shade. Popular Julia’s primrose varieties include the purple-flowered ‘Blue Horizon’, ‘Wanda’ with pink flowers or the light blue ‘Blue Julianas’.

Read our dedicated article on how to care for primroses to learn everything from sowing, to watering and overwintering this hardy plant.