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Category: Primulas

Primulas including Auricula, primroses and polyanthus

Grow Primula Candelabra Species

Grow Primula Candelabra Species

Flowers in May

Colourful Candelabra Primulas are great plants for shady damp locations. They originate from China and the Himalaya and are ideal for woodland, streamsides or damp banks. There are many species, hybrids and varieties to grow and collect.

Description of Candelabra Primula

  • Candelabra Primulas make clumps of strong oblong shaped leaves often persisting through the winter .
  • Primula from the Proliferae section send up tall stems on which there are whorls of ten flowers, each ring opening in succession, perhaps one every five or six days.
  • There can be up to six or seven whorls that gives a long flowering period from May.
  • There is a mass of colour from brilliant orange or yellow, purple, red, pink, white, even dark maroon.
  • There is often a powdery white ‘farina’ or white meal on the stems and leaves.
  • Plants can grow and flower 24″-36″ tall.

Flowers in May

Candelabra Primula Species and Varieties

  • Candelabra Primula pulverulenta purple to mauve flowers.
  • Primula Bulleesiana is one of the strongest and easiest candelabra varieties to grow.
  • Primula helodoxa golden yellow flowers up to 3 feet high.
  • Primula beesiana from Yunnan in China. Has rose-purple flowers. P. bulleyana is similar but with orange flowers and grows to 2 feet high.
  • Harlow Carr Candelabra hybrids show how easily these species cross fertilise. In addition to Harlow Carr gardens there is a good show of flowers at Picton Castle gardens in Pembrokeshire.
  • Candelabra Primula poissonii has vivid purple flowers with a distinct golden yellow centre.
  • Primula aurantiaca has late flowering orange or yellow whorls of flowers.
  • Primula cockburniana have whorls of ten or so flowers with each ring opening in succession.
  • Primula secundiflora thinner purple flowers, not my favourite.
  • Many Primulas from the Primula japonicas including ‘Apple Blossom’ are candelabra varieties from the Proliferae section
  • Primula pulverulenta Bartley hybrids available from Kevock Garden
Primulas at Harlow Carr
Primulas at Harlow Carr

This photo was taken in summer 2008 at RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire. The garden is renown for its variety of Candelabra Primula Hybrids.

Grow Candelabra Primula

  • Candelabra Primulas prefer partial shade and can only be grown in a sunny position if the soil is always moist.
  • Plants grow best in deep, peaty soil or any soil rich in well rotted organic matter.
  • Primulas prefer winter and spring light values that are weaker than in high summer
  • There are hybrids between Primula bulleyana and Primula beesiana flowers in varying cerise shades

Simple Primula Tips

  • Candelabra Primulas or Bulleesiana are easy to grow from seed that can be bought from RHS shops. Many primulas do not come true to seed.
  • From Harlow Carr hybrids you get a range of pastel colours which themselves self seed.
  • They like damp roots and these particular primulas were growing on the banks of a stream
  • Candelabra primulas get there name from the whorls of flowers blossoming in a tiered effect part way up the stem as well as at the top.
  • There are over 350 species of Primula and they would make an excellent subject for building a collection.
  • Primulas can be divided if you want a plant true to type

One of the best book currently available is Primula by John Richards

Book Cover

Growing Primrose

Growing Primrose

Primrose

Primrose (Primula Vulgaris) is a native wildflower of the UK. It suitable conditions it can be found in woodland and hedgerows. In the garden there are many cultivate types of Primrose. They have brighter and more showey flowers, though for purity and simplicity, it is hard to beat the natural primula.

Primrose

In Latin Primula means literally ‘first rose’. It is highly valued as one of early spring flowering perennials.

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Primula Kewensis One of the Worlds Top Ten

Primula Kewensis One of the Worlds Top Ten

Primula Kewensis

It is believed that the Kew Primrose, Primula Kewensis was bred from Primula verticillata and Primula floribunda around 1905. It should be high in the world’s top ten Primula varieties. It flowers yellow or lemon-yellow and has these attractive leaves when grown in the cold Alpine house.The downy powder is called meal or Farina and gives a grey-green appeal to the leaves similar to some show Auriculas. The seeds grow true and do not hybridise.

Primula

There are approaching 500 species of Primulas and numerous societies who specialise in the genus. The National Auricula and Primrose society Northern branch, The American Primula Society
Primula Kewensis to start the week
As seen in the exotic green houses of the Belgian National Botanical Garden.

More Primula seeds from Thompson & Morgan

Credits
Primula by Badly Drawn Dad CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Primula Kewensis to start the week by Vainsang CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

‘Ready’ Primula Plants for Spring

‘Ready’ Primula Plants for Spring

It is mid July and I have just placed an order for some colourful spring Primulas.
Choosing from a good selection at   Jersey Plants Direct  I opted for Auriculas and Rosebud Primroses.  As an alternative I could have ordered  Polyanthus (primrose flowers on stems) or a wide range of self-coloured primroses.

 

What and Why Buy Now

  • Ordering now, the plants should be delivered in good time to be planted and settled whilst the soil is warm and getting damp.
  • I do not do well growing these plants from seeds (which is very expensive) so I find the investment in plants well worthwhile.
  • My supplier offers various sizes of seedlings from 160  plugs 4-8cm, ‘Ready’ plants 6-10 cm, jumbo 7-11cm and super jumbo 8-12 in 5.7cm wide modules. I opted for the ready size as growing on small plants in the past has caused me higher losses
  • The quantities mean I can split the delivery into two and plant half in a cold frame and half in their flowering position to see which section performs best.
  • As recommended by Jersey I will grow some Rosebuds in pots for the house.

 

Photo credits
frosted auricula by framheim CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
primrose happiness by windsordi CC BY-NC 2.0
Auricula Dolly Viney by abriachan nurseries CC BY-NC-ND 2.0  ‘Auriculas are one of my favourite flowers, they are so unique and cheerful.
We grow and sell a wide selection of Auricula at the nursery and send out our catalogue and mailorder all over the UK.’

Auricula Dolly Viney

Five Primrose Pictures

Five Primrose Pictures

Primroses that bloom in the spring tra-la seemed a good title for these pictures with short pithy comments attached.

Primrose
Hedgerow primroses grow well in the shade but flower better when a bit of sun breaks through the woodland branches waiting for their new leaves.

Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, tra-la
The inspiration for these five pictures of Primrose in their many colours.

Primroses in Spring

Leaves can die back shortly after flowering. The longer they are green the more they are feeding the roots and plant for future flowering.
Water and feed after flowering, you would be hungry and thirsty after producing so much seed and progeny.

Haworth primroses

Some colour look good and faithful on computer screens. I think that this applies to these Primroses.

Primrose
Bred as a double flower this Primrose has interesting colouring. Some plants can be over bred and are then hard to keep from one year to the next. This is the second year of this plant.


Picture and other credits

Primrose seeds at Thompson & Morgan
Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, tra-la by cobalt123 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ‘Perky blooms in full glory, seen at the entrance to the Westin Hotel at LAX in Los Angeles. I don’t know what these are, so an ID is appreciated. I now believe these are primrose flowers. There were many colors and varieties of these flowers, which must be hardy against peaks of high and low temperatures and the gusty winds near the airport.’
Primroses in Spring by Chiot’s Run CC BY-NC 2.0 ‘…this one plant is 7 years old. All the other ones died, but this one blooms every spring…’

 

Primula Denticulata or Himalayan Primrose

Primula Denticulata or Himalayan Primrose

Spring flowering Primulas are one of gardens wonders. The ‘denticulata’ flowers are held on firm high stalks up to 12″ above ground. The globular appearance is due to the mass of small florets that group together to form a ball shape.

Primula denticula alba

In early March this white Drumstick Primula Denticulata is full of flowers on stalks that are just breaking free from ground level.
Within a week the stalks will be over 10 inches tall and fully open.
Admired by the neighbors I often split the plants and give examples away.

Primula denticula

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Primula Family – Selected Photographs

Primula Family – Selected Photographs

skipton 021

Wild flowers including the Cowslip and Oxlip are both part of the large Primula family P. dioram and P. elatior respectively. The Primrose both wild and cultivated is also one of the 450 or so Primulacea.

spring 034

After viewing these pictures of Primroses look at the other relatives including Primula deticula and Harlow Carr hybrids.

Auricula

Auriculas have featured recently on gardeners tips.

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Books on Primula, Auriculas and Polyanthus

Books on Primula, Auriculas and Polyanthus

Book Cover
The Primula; Being the Report on the Primula Conference Held at South Kensington, 1886, Together with a Report on the Orchid Nomenclature Conference,

Comment on Primula Books

The internet can’t give you all the knowledge and joy that a book can provide. I am biased as I collect gardening books but am drawing the line at buying books that are digital publications of the Wiki content (sorry I have included one book in this list of books on the Primula family.)
Books and records on the history of plants and how they have been grown, bred and developed can add extra interest for the gardening amateur, professional or obsessional alike.
This is just a list of some of the books in English about Primulas and related species that are available, even if currently out of print.
Part of the fun is adding to a collection via secondhand book shops and I hope to add to this list as I realise other books are in publication.

Book Cover

Primula by John Richards

Primula The Complete Guide by Mary A Robinson shares a fount of knowledge from her nursery in Lincolnshire.

Generic Primula Books

Primulas by Sidney Clapham (1973)
Primulas by A. G Puttock (1957)
Primulas Old and New by Jack Wemyss-Cooke
The Genus Primula In Cultivation And The Wild. by J. J. Halda (1992)
Hardy primulas by H.G Lyall (1959)
Primrose and Polyanthus by Peter Ward
Synoptic Guide to the Genus Primula by G. K. Fenderson
A Plantsman’s Guide to Primulas (Plantsman’s Guide Series) by Philip Swindells (23 Mar 1989)
Primulas of the British Isles (Shire natural history) by John Richards (Jun 1989)
Primulas Of Europe & America. by Smith GF & Burrow B & Lowe D B an excellent Alpine Garden Society Guide
Asiatic Primulas Gardeners’ Guide by Roy Green
‘Primula’ Wikipedia consolidated articles
Book Cover

Auricula and Polyanthus Books

Book Cover
Primroses and Auriculas Wisley Handbook by Peter Ward
The Auricula: History, Cultivation and Varieties by Allan Guest
Auriculas Through the Ages: Bear’s… by Patricia Cleveland-Peck
Auriculas for Everyone: How to Grow and Show Perfect Plants by Mary A. Robinson
Auriculas and Primroses by W.R. Hecker (22 Apr 1971)
Auriculas: Their Care and Cultivation (Illustrated Monographs S) by Brenda Hyatt (22 Jun 1989)
Auriculas by Roy Genders (1958)
Auriculas by Gwen Baker and Peter Ward (5 May 1995)
Alpine Auriculas. by Telford Derek (1993)
Florists’ auriculas and gold-laced polyanthus by C.G Haysom (1957)
The auricula its culture and history. yr. 1898 by George William Johnson (1 Jan 1847)

Book Cover
Auriculas: An Essential Guide (Crowood Essential Guides) by Paul Dorey

Primroses and polyanthus by Harold Charles Taylor (1954)
The polyanthus for garden exhibition and market (Foyle’s Handbooks) by Roy Genders (1958)
The POLYANTHUS : Its History and Culture. by Genders Roy (1963)

I am happy to receive any additions or corrections to this list via the comments section.

Auriculas for Everyone
Mary A. Robinson.
GMC Publications.
ISBN 1-86108-149-9
£14.50 plus £2.50 p&p

Auriculas
G.Baker & P.Ward
B.T.Batsford Ltd.
ISBN 0-7134-7366-5

Book Cover

The Auricula: History, Cultivation and Varieties Allan Guest

Auriculas – Their Care and Cultivation
B.Hyatt Cassell, London.
ISBN 0-304-34070-7

Primula & Polyanthus Seed Sowing Secrets

Primula & Polyanthus Seed Sowing Secrets

primulas

There should be no great secrets to sowing seeds of one of our favourite genus the Primula. However with in excess of 600 species and 30 different groups or sections you need to be on top of your seed sowing game.

Primula allionii

Secrets of Timing when Sowing Primula

  • Nature sows seeds soon after flowering. If it is good for mother nature it likely to be good for gardeners.
  • On the other hand most seed can remain viable for several years. Keep the seed in packets in a screw-topped jar and store in the cool & dark preferably in a fridge
  • If you sow before the end of May the plants have time to develop before winter.
  • Sowings can be made up to the end of July as long as you keep the seed compost cool and moist.
  • The later you leave it the more difficult it is for small plants unestablished Primulas through a winter season.
  • Primula seeds germinate best when they are fresh and ripe.
  • Alpine Species generally benefit from natural freezing and thawing to get them germinating so it’s important to sow as early as possible.

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Tips and Pics of Primula allionii

Tips and Pics of Primula allionii

Primula allionii are easier to grow in pots than open ground but they repay a bit of effort. In an alpine house they can live for over 25 years providing many blooms in that time.
Primula allionii
Primula allionii have been cultivated for over 100 years and there are many forms some being more vigorous than others.
They are endemic to the French and Italian maritime Alps.
I have just bought a plant from the local AGS society Primuls allionii Anna Griffith.

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