''Primula angustifolia'', also known as alpine primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family

Primulaceae The Primulaceae ( ), commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden pla ...

, native to the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...

of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It is commonly found in

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

and

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

Description

''Primula angustifolia'' is a dwarf plant, 1 to 7 cm (.39 to 2.75 in) tall. Leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, folded slightly inwards and 2–5 cm (.78 to 1.96 in) long. The plant grows as a single stem or in clumps. Flowers are notched, varying in color from pink to lilac to deep purple, with a yellow eye. Flowers can be up to 20 mm in diameter, and can appear too large for the diminutive plant. Plants often range in size, flower number and flower color. White flowered plants are generally found in New Mexico. The plant blooms from June to August.

Distribution and habitat

The plant's distribution is the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico. It is typically found above the tree-line in tundra habitats and in rocky locations above 3000 m. (9842 ft).

Cultivation

Often long-lived in cultivation, the plant is free-flowering but rarely produces seed. Plants do best when grown in containers under glass, in a rich sandy mix. Plants have done well outdoors in Scotland, grown in troughs.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17250882 angustifolia Flora of Colorado Flora of New Mexico