A welcome pop of early spring colour in the garden comes from the Primula denticulata, otherwise know as the drumstick primula, with its spherical heads of tightly packed, bell-shaped florets, in shades of purple, lilac, violet, pink, and white, which it carries on tall stems.
The flower stems grow to a height of 30-45cm, and are topped by masses of tiny flowers formed into a ball - giving the appearance of a drumstick.
The drumstick primula, a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, is native to moist, alpine regions of China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Nepal, and Pakistan, and it thrives here in moist, Scottish soil.
Primula denticulata is a herbaceous perennial, forming a basal rosette of finely toothed, slightly hairy leaves at the bottom. Although seeming to die back in winter, it is completely hardy, and will reliably come back year on year, forming lush new mounds of bright, green leaves.
These primulas make great pond marginals provided that the crown and leaves are not submerged. They are not suitable for standing in water within the pond, but can cope with quite wet ground conditions so can be a very useful plant in many of our heavy clay soil gardens. The ideal position would be in moist soil with light shade.
Often they will self-seed which means you will end up with an expanding, fabulous display around the garden without having to lift a finger. Otherwise, drumstick primulas are easy to propagate in late autumn or early spring by division so just dig up a clump, split, and replant as two separate clumps.
Primula denticulata will provide nectar and pollen for bees and many other types of early pollinating insects so it is well worth having around the garden to attract them in.
A low maintenance, virtually disease-free plant, simply cut the flower stems back after flowering, and if you are really lucky, a Primula denticulata may even give a second, floriferous show!