How to prune primula japonica

During flowering in late spring to early summer; leaf tidy in autumn. Track each candelabra stem as whorls open and fade. Deadhead finished whorls by pinching them off; once the top whorl has finished, cut the whole stem to the base. In autumn, remove dead and tatty outer leaves from the rosette by hand or with snips.

Progressively during flowering; annual leaf tidy in autumn. Japanese primrose needs little pruning. Remove spent flower candelabras down to the basal rosette after each tier finishes blooming — the plant produces flowers in successive whorls, so deadhead progressively. Cut the entire flowering stem to the base once all whorls are spent. Clear dead leaves in autumn to reduce slug habitat.

Track each candelabra stem as whorls open and fade. Deadhead finished whorls by pinching them off; once the top whorl has finished, cut the whole stem to the base. In autumn, remove dead and tatty outer leaves from the rosette by hand or with snips.