Polyanthus - perennial or bi-annual?

Polyanthus are perennial in my garden but in others are considered bi-annual. I think the reason they are considered bi-annual is that they can be quite picky about where they are grown My experience has shown that they don't like a rich soil and didn't last more than two seasons, but will thrive in poor ground. My sister's previous garden was somewhat unattended, the soil poor and dry and yet the Polyanthus loved it enough to self seed and proliferate I've had to deliberately make small areas of soil poor to get them to thrive and have had them now there for about 5 years.

 

Primula vulgaris (Pr/prim)
primrose

• Other common namesprimrose
  blue primrose
  
  see more
• SynonymsPrimula acaulis
  Primula grandiflora
  
  see more
• FamilyPrimulaceae
  
• GenusPrimula are herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials, forming a basal rosette of simple leaves, with salver-shaped or bell-shaped flowers which may be solitary or carried in an umbel or in whorls on an erect stem
  
• Horticultural GroupPrimroses are rosette-forming herbaceous perennials, sometimes grown as annuals, with clusters of solitary flowers arising from the rosette in late winter or early spring
  
• DetailsP. vulgaris is a perennial forming a rosette of tongue-shaped leaves, with many scented, usually primrose-yellow flowers 2.5-3.5cm across, in early spring
  
• Plant rangeW & S Europe
  

Characteristics

• FoliageSemi-evergreen
  
• HabitClump-forming
  
• FragranceFlower
  
• Hardiness
  
  H7
  

Colour
Colour in Autumn

• 
  foliage
  
  
  

Colour in Spring

• 
  foliage
  
  
  
• 
  flower
  
  
  

Colour in Summer

• 
  foliage
  
  
  

Colour in Winter

• 
  foliage
  
  
  

Sunlight

• 
  Full Sun
  
• 
  Partial Shade
  

• AspectSouth-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing
  
• ExposureSheltered
  

Soil

• 
  Chalk
  
• 
  Clay
  
• 
  Sand
  
• 
  Loam
  

• MoistureMoist but well-drained
  
• SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam
  
• pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
  

Size

• Ultimate heightUp to 10 cm
  
• Ultimate spread0-0.1 metre
  
• Time to ultimate height2-5 years
  

How to grow
CultivationGrow as biennials for bedding and in a container or rock garden. Favours a sheltered position in sun or partial shade

PropagationPropagate by seed or root basal cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden typesFlower borders and beds Low Maintenance Banks and Slopes Cottage & Informal Garden Wildflower meadow Wildlife Gardens

How to care
PruningNo pruning required

PestsMay be attacked by aphids, vine weevil, slugs, leaf and bud eelworms, leaf-mining flies and glasshouse red spider mite

DiseasesMay be subject to a leaf spot and grey mould