Drumstick primula

Drumstick primula: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low leaf rosette about 30 cm wide, with sturdy flower stems up to about 30 cm tall in spring.

Leaves

Spoon-shaped with a finely toothed edge; still short at flowering time, then up to 20–30 cm long.

Flower

A ball about 5–7 cm across packed with small yellow-eyed flowers, on top of a sturdy stem.

Colour

Lilac and purple, but also white, pink or reddish purple.

Roots

Thick, fleshy roots that dry out quickly; they are well suited to root cuttings.

Flowering: March–May · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: May

Why grow it?

• One of the earliest perennials with large, eye-catching flowers, from March to May.
• The round flower heads are unusual and almost graphic in shape.
• Ideal for damp spots: beside a pond or stream or in moist partial shade.
• Bees and bumblebees find food on it early in the year.
• Compact and suitable for pots, containers and the front of a border.

Drumstick primula: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; in full sun only if the soil always stays moist.
• Humus-rich, moisture-retentive loam, clay or peaty soil, acid to neutral.
• Moist to wet in summer, but no standing water around the crown in winter.
• Plant 25–30 cm apart, in small groups for the best effect.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.3 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Marsh marigold: Golden-yellow flowers in the same season, at a wet pond edge.
• Daffodil: Yellow trumpets beside the lilac balls in March and April.
• Hosta: Takes over after flowering with large leaves, in the same moist partial shade.
• Ferns: Fresh green underplanting for a damp, shady corner.

Drumstick primula: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October.
2. Mix compost or leaf mould into the soil so that it holds moisture.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot: the heart of the rosette should stay just above the soil.
4. Leave 25–30 cm between plants.
5. Water in thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist for the first few weeks.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould around the plant, but not over the crown.

Care

Watering

Never let the soil dry out, not even in summer; in dry weather give a good soaking every week.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould or compost in spring and autumn keeps the soil cool and moist.

Feeding

A thin layer of compost or well-rotted manure in spring is enough.

Spent flowers

In May, cut the faded stems off at the base, unless you want seed.

Dividing

Every three or four years after flowering, when the clump flowers less freely.

Tip: Round flower heads on sturdy stems in March and April. Keep the soil moist, even in summer, and divide the plant after a few years, straight after flowering.

Drumstick primula: when to prune it?

Pruning months: May.

When: Pruning is hardly needed. In May, after flowering, cut off the faded flower stems.

How:

• Cut the stems as low as possible without damaging the leaves.
• Remove yellow and rotting leaves, especially in autumn, so that mould does not get into the crown.
• Leave a few stems if you want to collect seed.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

After flowering, in May, or in September: lift the plant, split it into pieces each with a rosette and roots, and replant them straight away.

Root cuttings

In December–January: cut a few thick roots into 3–5 cm pieces, lay them on a pot of cutting compost and cover with a thin layer of sand. Keep the pot cool and slightly moist; they shoot in spring.

Drumstick primula: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• In winter it rests as a fat bud on the soil surface; keep it clear of rotting leaves.
• Standing water around the crown makes it rot: a collar of gravel around the plant helps in heavy soil.
• In a pot: stand it in a sheltered spot against a wall and do not let the compost dry out or become waterlogged.

Diseases and pests

• Vine weevil: Notched, half-moon bites in the leaf edges, and grubs that eat the roots so that the plant suddenly wilts. Pick off the adults at night or use nematodes against the grubs.
• Slugs: They eat young leaves and flower buds in spring. Pick them off in the evening.
• Crown rot: The crown turns brown and soft after a wet winter. Make sure drainage is good and remove rotting leaves.
• Drying out: Limp, shrivelled leaves in summer. Water generously and mulch the soil.

Through the year

• January: Take root cuttings.
• March: In flower. Plant.
• April: In full flower. Plant. Watch for slugs.
• May: Last flowers. Cut off faded stems. Divide.
• June: Water in dry spells. Mulch.
• July: Keep the soil moist. Watch for vine weevil.
• August: Water in dry spells.
• September: Plant and divide.
• October: Plant. Remove rotting leaves.
• December: Take root cuttings.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The species name denticulata means ‘finely toothed’ and refers to the edges of the leaves.
• The name Primula comes from the Latin primus, the first: many primulas are among the earliest flowers of the year.
• Its English name comes from the round flower heads, which look like the sticks of a drum.