Primula anisodora

065-012 Primula anisodora ( Anise primrose )
Joy Creek Photo Archive (c) all rights reserved	The plant explorer George Forrest found this candelabra primula in July 1913 in the mountains of the Chung-tien District in Yunan, China. The name Primula anisodora is written on his herbarium specimen clearly indicating that he had found a primrose that smelled of anise when in flower. The flowers are not only fragrant, however, they are also lovely. Individual flowers are dark maroon with a yellow green eye. They bloom in succession up the flowering stems in three to five whorls of 8 to 10 outward-facing flowers. The evergreen basal foliage is attractive as well. The large leaves have a broad central vein with silvery side veining. They are also finely toothed along their margins. This is a primrose that needs consistently moist soil to do its best. May, June. 2 ft. x 2 ft. Maroon flowers *Sun, Part Shade Zones 5, 6, 7, 8*