PLANT LIBRARY

Other Names:  Candelabra Primrose

Description:

This variety features fantastic clusters of blooms in magenta, white, and shades of pink, all above deep green foliage for wonderful contrast; a colorful display in a border or container planting

Ornamental Features

Fairy Primrose features delicate clusters of shell pink star-shaped flowers with pink overtones and red eyes rising above the foliage from early to late spring. Its crinkled oval leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Fairy Primrose is an herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fairy Primrose is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Fairy Primrose will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 9 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 7 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Fairy Primrose is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.