Primula maximowiczii

This rather unusual curious alpine primula grows naturally in quite dry alpine meadows and around shaded mossy rocks in the mountains of north-central China. It is not easily obtained so we are delighted to offer it here. In the garden give it a soil with lots of leaf mould and a cool shaded not wet spot. A good garden habitat is at the fringe of woodland. Flowering time is May into June. It has proven to be hardy in the UK and Ireland. Flowering height is about 30cm (1 foot). The bright red flowers (up to 3 whorls) are quite unusual in that the petals reflex (turn back). Multi-flower stemmed when established.