Practical
Plants

Primula macrophylla

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Primula
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Spread
0.2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The entire plant is used in Tibetan medicine, it is said to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[4]. Antidiarrhetic, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, inflammation of the liver, gall bladder, stomach and intestines[4]. It is especially used for children with high fever and diarrhoea[4].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Febrifuge

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to China.
Habitat
Grassy mountain slopes, rock crevices, wet meadows and marshes at elevations of 4000 - 5200 metres[5]..
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[2]. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame[1]. Germination is inhibited by temperatures above 20°c[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in autumn. This is best done every other year[3].

Cultivation

A plant of high alpine areas, it is of difficult cultivation in Britain[3]. In the wild it experiences wet summers, relatively dry autumns and long winters under a blanket of snow that protects the bulb-like resting bud[3]. It is best to give the plants a deep, well-drained soil in a sunny position with the added protection of a pane of glass[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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