• Image of Primula sieboldii 'Nankin Kozakura'|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Primula sieboldii 'Nankin Kozakura'

Nankin Kozakura Siebold's Primrose

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 9458

Zones: 4a to 7b, at least

Dormancy: Winter, Summer, Fall

Height: 8" tall

Culture: Light Shade

Origin: Japan

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Primula 'Nankin Kozakura' is an exceptional form of the popular, easy-to-grow Siebold's primose. The deciduous clumps emerge in early spring, topped for us with 8" tall stalks of lavender flowers, each edged with a narrow white border. We love placing these throughout the shade garden. Average to moist soils in a woodland setting are perfect.

Maintenance:

The only maintenance which might be necessary when growing Primula sieboldii might be to remove the old foliage and flower stalks as it goes dormant come hot weather. But memory suggests that it might quietly disappear on its own. It might be beneficial to mark its location so one does not dig it up while it is dormant.

Growing Conditions:

Primula sieboldii is a woodland plant which returns from dormancy in late winter and flowers in spring. While in growth it makes use of the sunlight available while the tree canopy is leafless and the greater moisture available at that time of the year. Like many a native spring ephemeral it goes dormant by early summer as growing conditions become less hospitable. This is a species that thrives in the growing conditions of the southeast US. Moist well drained soils suit it best; avoid soggy sites.

Garden Value:

A charming addition to the spring bloom display in a shade garden. The flowers vary from white to pale pink through rich dark purple. Flowers are often bi-colored and quite beautifully snowflake shaped. The foliage is also an asset, being a lively spring green and roughly arrow shaped, with a scalloped edge and deeply impressed veins. Primula sieboldii spreads at a modest rate and could be used as a small scale ground cover though it only covers the ground for about one third of the year. Its early rising habit makes it a good companion for plants that are late to come into new growth in the spring such as some Hosta and some Arisaema (Jack-in-the-Pulpits); thereby two plants occupying the same site but at opposite seasons.