How big does Rosy primrose grow?

About 20 cm × 30 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 15–25 cm × 15–30 cm.

What soil does Rosy primrose grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, acidic.

Is Rosy primrose hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

How much water does Rosy primrose need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Rosy primrose

Primula rosea

Rosy primrose (Primula rosea) is a perennial that reaches 20 cm × 30 cm after ten years. Light: part shade, full sun. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €5.

Illustration of Rosy primrose — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A small Himalayan primrose that opens its vivid pink, yellow-eyed flowers in March and April, before the leaves have developed; nurseries mostly sell the larger-flowered 'Grandiflora' and 'Gigas'. Plant it at a pond edge, beside a stream, in a bog bed or in permanently damp, humus-rich soil, where it looks best in groups. It does not last in an ordinary border that dries out in summer, so only use it where the ground stays moist all year.

Watch out for

It dies in dry soil: in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it only persists in permanently moist part shade, at the waterside or with regular watering, and takes full sun only in cool, wet positions. It disappears completely in winter, when it is easy to hoe out by mistake. Slugs, aphids, vine weevil grubs, leaf spot and grey mould can damage it.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Full sun
Water need: High
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 20 cm × 30 cm
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–May, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Part shade, Full sun
Size after 10 years	20 cm × 30 cm
Ultimate size	15–25 cm × 15–30 cm
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–May, pink
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	25 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €5

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €5

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials for clay soil Perennials for pollinators

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