Primula secundiflora - Primrose

The Primula secundiflora is a superb hardy primrose, native to the highest mountains of China. Its exceptional flowering deserves a place in the wettest areas of the garden, not far from water sources. From a rosette of narrow, wavy leaves, robust upright stems emerge in late spring, well above the foliage, each bearing an umbel of bell-shaped flowers in a deep burgundy or ruby red. This spectacular botanical species thrives in full sun or partial shade, in moist and light soil.

The Primula secundiflora belongs to the primrose family, like all primroses. It grows in the wild, sometimes at altitudes of over 3600 metres (11811 feet), in the heart of the Sichuan and Yunnan mountains in China. This perennial first produces a vigorous rosette of deciduous, light green and glossy leaves, narrow and about twenty centimetres long, with toothed edges and visible veins, carried by long petioles. The flowering takes place in June-July, in the form of tall, sturdy stems of dark red colour, 90 cm (35in) above the ground, powdery at the top, adorned at their ends with a cluster composed of 5 to 20 remarkably coloured flowers. The flowers are campanulate, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) wide and 3 cm (1in) long, gracefully inclined towards the ground, and sport a red hue that can be seen from afar.

This perennial is not very common in European gardens. Resembling a giant cowslip, it appreciates moist or even waterlogged, light and humus-rich soils, without limestone and low in clay. Hardy to at least -20°C (-4°F), it will appreciate a location near a stream or pond rather than a sunny spot, although it tolerates partial shade very well. With no maintenance required, it thrives on its own by spreading randomly. In wet flower beds, it brings height and lightness to the broad foliage of rodgersias, deer ferns, or hostas. It also pairs well with Alchemilla mollis, Artemisia lactiflora, filipendulas, lysimachias, and astilbes.