Primula vialii - Vial's Primrose

The Primula vialii is the strangest of Asian primroses, as it resembles more a terrestrial orchid than a primrose.

This perennial forms deciduous, pale green, villous leaves, curled at the edges, gathered in rosettes of 10-15cm (4-6in) in diameter from which unique inflorescences emerge in early summer. The erect stems, about 40cm (16in) tall, each bear a conical spike, adorned with carmine red flowers when in bud, then mauve pink once open. The flowers open from bottom to top and are coloured light pink, creating a curious effect of a two-tone cone in the middle of flowering.

A demanding perennial, Primula vialii likes partially shaded positions, acidic, moist, light and very humus-rich soils, without excess water in winter. Cultivate it on the banks of a pond, in a shady rockery or at the edge of a woodland with Dodecatheon, Podophyllum, Astilbe and ligularias. Its lifespan is relatively short (a few years), so it is preferable to divide it every year or let it self-seed in a favorable environment.