This is the maximowiczii sub-section of the Crystallophlomis section - which sounds like some detailed botany is coming up. In fact these are distinctive and easily recognised plants, most of which are outstandingly beautiful. They make clumps of leaves from which arise tall stems carrying a cluster of short-stemmed flowers, which may be pale yellow, an unusual bright brick red, very dark red and even black. The petals are usually recurved to some extent. Most are strongly scented.

Primula tangutica x maximowiczii is the hybrid of two species, first made by Stuart Pawley. Primula tangutica has very dark red flowers with narrow, reflexed petals, and in Primula maximowiczii the flowers are bright crimson, and the petals are broader but more strongly reflexed. These plants will be intermediate, and should be unlike any other primulas grown so far.