Round-headed Himalayan Primrose

An unusual little primrose, Primula capitata is a rosette-forming, semi-evergreen, rather short-lived perennial which forms a clump of toothed, oblong to lance-shaped, pale-green, mealy leaves with silvery undersides. Tiny, deep lilac to purple, bell-shaped flowers open in a compact, flattened rosette at the top of upright, mealy stems. It thrives at the front of a damp border behind a north-facing wall. Originally from Tibet and Bhutan, round-headed Himalayan primrose should be dead-headed to prolong flowering.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Reliably moist, humus-rich, loamy, neutral to acid soil; poorly drained soil
Position: Partial shade; tolerates full shade
Season of interest: March and April in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 1 (30cm) Spread: 1 (30cm)