Four-season primrose has these other names too, did you know?

Introduction to Four-season primrose

[Aliases] Four-season primrose, Hubei primrose, crane lotus

[Classification] Primulaceae, Primula

[Origin] Native to western China, now widely cultivated.

[Habits] Likes light, but fears strong light; fears heat; likes acidic, fertile leaf mold.

Morphological characteristics of Four-season primrose

Four-season primrose is a perennial herbaceous plant, with a short stem, about 30 cm tall, brown. Many fibrous roots. Leaves basal, oblong to ovate, with long petioles, edges with shallow notches; leaf surface smooth, leaf underside densely covered with white soft hairs, often bearing an irritating toxic secretion. Flower scapes emerge from the leaf cluster, umbel relatively large, calyx funnel-shaped, corolla red, cultivated varieties numerous and brightly colored, with colors such as white, magenta, purplish red, blue, light red or light purple. Seeds tiny, brown when mature.

Varieties of Four-season primrose

The varieties of Four-season primrose include the large-flowered variety, the deep red-flowered variety and the white-flowered variety; cultivated varieties also include double-flowered types. As potted plants of the same genus, commonly seen ones also include Tibetan primrose, primrose, many-flowered primrose, European primrose, Kew primrose, etc.

The genus Primula has more than about 450 species, mainly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere; China produces about 390 species, mainly in the west and southwest, especially in low-latitude, high-altitude cool and humid areas, and most species have large, brightly colored flowers.

Habits of Four-season primrose

Likes cool and moist conditions, avoids scorching sun exposure, tolerates fertilizer, not cold-resistant. The suitable growth temperature is 13-18°C, and soil rich in humus sandy loam is most suitable. Depending on temperature, it can complete growth in 110-140 days.

The flowering room temperature for Four-season primrose is 10-15°C. It does not need low temperatures like other primroses, but appropriate low temperatures can make the plant grow robustly with a compact plant shape, and also increase the number of flower branches. After entering the flowering period, appropriately increase the concentration of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, generally using 15-10-30 fertilizer at 200 ppm. After the flowering period, pay attention to pruning withered flower branches to prevent gray mold.

Uses of Four-season primrose

Four-season primrose and various other primroses are important indoor potted flowers, widely cultivated around the world. Four-season primrose is an important potted flower for decorating rooms in winter and spring. It usually blooms from December to April of the following year.

It can also be used as a cut flower. The whole plant is used as medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying.

Note that the leaf glandular hairs of Four-season primrose contain primin, and some people are prone to allergies. Wiping hands with alcohol before contact and washing with soapy water after contact can provide protection. It is reported that varieties without primin have been bred abroad.