Primula sikkimensis

GIANT SIKKIM COWSLIPS

No WA

Primula sikkimensis
GIANT SIKKIM COWSLIPS

Primula sikkimensis is a treasure for beauty of bloom; knockout fragrance; and impressive size.
Not permitted for WA

Giant heads of Cowslip flowers

With giant blooms of large flaring bells (well at least giant in the world of Primulas); tall elegant stems; and the most superb scent.
Primula sikkimensis well earns the common name of Giant Sikkim Cowslips, with flower stems up to 60cm., or even 75cm. in best conditions.

Bewitching nutmeg honey scent

Primula sikkimensis blooms have a wonderful sweet, spicy-honey scent that wafts through the air.
And the flower heads just keep on wafting fragrance, as the flaring bells in each head continue to open in dangling layers over a long period.
This is a particularly long-blooming Cowslip.

Flaring bells of soft creamy-lemon plus

Lovely Giant Cowslip heads are usually a soft creamy-lemon colour.
However occasionally seed will also produce blooms of pink, rose or white.
All are borne in large heads of flaring, nodding bells, and each plant bears a series of multiple, tall strong flower stems.

Later blooming & continue the season of beautiful Primula

Primula sikkimensis plants are later blooming than most other winter and spring flowering Primula.
Beginning to produce their stunning heads in mid-spring onwards into summer.
So they extend the Cowslip season with the wow factor of both exceptional size and perfume.

Excellent florist’s flowers for cutting

The tall, upright flower stems are excellent florist’s flowers for cutting.
And a vase of Primula sikkimensis scents the room so sweetly.

Wow factor in a shaded spot

Primula sikkimensis appreciate a site that remains moist, and in the Shade or Dappled Light throughout  the day.
So they are terrific at the waterside; in a wet, boggy, shaded spot; or where the soil is well enriched with humus, leaf litter or organic matter.

Perfect woodland & fernery plants

Giant Sikkim Cowslips are particularly happy in a woodland setting snuggled amongst fallen leaves.
And they thrive in a fernery where the air is moist, or in a pot on the shaded verandah.
Though they do not like to have their crowns completely submerged in a pond like some other Primula.

Long lived & self-seeds to form impressive colonies

If given their preferred growing conditions, Primula sikkimensis are long lived perennial plants.
And will also self seed to create a breathtakingly beautiful colony to see and sniff for many years.

Frost hardy & happy in humidity

They are exceptionally frost hardy, virtually pest and disease free in their happy place.
As Primula sikkimensis go dormant over winter, to reshoot with lovely fresh, neat clumps of serrated foliage each spring.
They are native to woodlands across Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet, Assam in northern India, and Myanmar. So they are well acquainted with humidity.

Free from rabbit & deer pests

Best of all deer and rabbits leave them alone. Because they don’t like the flavour.

60-75cm. approx. High with large fragrant heads x 30cm. approx. Wide neat foliage rosette.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow seeds of Primula sikkimensis indoors in winter, spring or autumn / or scatter outdoors in winter or early spring.

Indoors:
(Sowing Tip: Primula seeds are very fine and tiny. So pop a little fine sieved mix or sand into the bag containing the seed, shake around to collect the seed, and then sow the whole contents of the bag).

First scatter the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.

Now gently pat the surface to ensure the seeds have good contact with the the mix.
And only lightly cover with mix so the seeds are still partly showing.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Keep Primula punnets consistently moist

And thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate through to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place the sown, moist punnet in a well lit position (with good light but absolutely no direct sunlight).
And continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly with a spray water bottle.
Covering with a plastic lid or plastic bag will also help to maintain consistent moisture.
Primula florindae seed like consistent moisture and resent drying out.

Keep seedlings cool

Temperatures of 13-15°C. are best for optimum and rapid germination.
Excessive heat may restrict or halt germination and cause the seeds to go into dormancy.
So it is best to sow when it is unlikely that daytime temperatures will not exceed 20C.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 30-40 days.

However if the seeds are shy to germinate – Then break their dormancy by giving them a “pretend winter”.
So cling wrap the moist sown punnet and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
Then remove, unwrap and return to well-lit position at 13-15°C. and continue to keep moist.

Prick out and grow on in a cool spot.

Seed Count: 10 seeds per pack.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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