Primula capitata ssp. mooreana

Description

This little Primula, found natively growing in the foothills of the Himalayas, is rarely seen but no less lovely for it. It has semi-evergreen foliage, sharing the spoon-shaped leaves and compact, rosette form with common primroses but generally smaller and with a light dusting of mealy powder that gives the foliage a silver sheen. The flowering stems appear in early summer and often again in late summer, rising 10cm or so above the foliage like drumstick primulas and opening out into balls of striking violet-blue flowers arranged in a disc or halo around the centre of the inflorescence. Like most primulas it makes a great addition to moist semi-shaded woodland settings, but the slightly unusual appearance of this species, along with its diminutive size and delicate appearance, make it also a good candidate for containers and rock gardens in semi-shaded areas where there is reliable moisture and some protection from the harshest sun.

These established, garden-ready plants have been grown in peat-free compost at our nursery in Cornwall and are supplied in two-litre containers. The foliage will grow in clumps with flowering stems reaching to about 30cm (12 inches) high, and spreading to around 20cm (8 inches). Where happy they will self-seed to form small colonies.