Primula September

[Thomas Huber]

Another mystery plant:
This beauty is flowering now in my garden. The label is not easy to identify (written by a friend)
it looks like P. trushbyi but a google search for this name was not successful.
Any better suggestions?

edited to change thread title. M

[ranunculus]

Hi Thomas,
Possibly Primula rusbyi?

[Thomas Huber]

Hi Thomas,
Possibly Primula rusbyi?

Yes, Cliff, this sounds good. Google photos match with my plant - thanks!!!

[Giles]

P.rusbyi usually flowers late May/early June ?

[ranunculus]

Hi Giles,
Stella and David at Kevock Garden Plants list P. rusbyi as follows:-

Primula rusbyi comes from around 3000 m in New Mexico and Arizona, states that are dry and hot in summer at lower altitudes. It is deciduous,and does not appear until one fears that it has gone for ever. Then it rapidly produces its mealy leaves and the stems carrying half a dozen or more large, bright red-pink, yellow-eyed flowers. We grow it under glass, but it is reputed to do well outside, well watered but also well drained.

As Thomas is growing this in Germany then I suspect he may encounter conditions more akin to New Mexico (where it blooms in July/August) than Malvern.

[Maggi Young]

Quite apart from climatic differences, it is often the case that young plants will produce flowers at odd seasons, further muddying the waters.... for instance, I found a very young hellebore flowering today

[Thomas Huber]

Cliff, it's good that I didn't know about their home - I would never have expected to
imitate New Mexican climate in my garden. It's the third year here and the first flowers.

[Giles]

(I don't know why they are flowering now)
P.elatior meyeri
P.magasiefolia
P.halleri
P.recubariensis (I think this is wrong)

[Maggi Young]

Friends, you will see that I have started this September page !

[David Nicholson]

On Primula recubariensis John Richards says "....a stem which does not exceed the short broad leaves. Distinguished from P. hirsuta by the lilac-violet flowers borne in groups of 2-5, a strong resinous scent......"

Does it have a scent Giles?

[David Nicholson]

Ah! now I see, how very efficient Maggi!   Could you also move please my recent response to Giles' query about Primula recubariensis.

[Maggi Young]

Ah! now I see, how very efficient Maggi!   Could you also move please my recent response to Giles' query about Primula recubariensis.

I think you will find I have done that very thing, David!

[David Nicholson]

Flowering now, and it really shouldn't be is my Primula 'Blue Wave'. In National Auricula and Primula Society terms this plant is sometimes shown as a x pubescens and sometimes as a Border Auricula. I have a number of  open pollinated seedlings from this plant that should flower next year.

[Maggi Young]

I love these out of season flowers! Liking the Blue Wave, David... lovely farina

[Giles]

David,
The plant is minute (about 1/2 inch in diameter).
It's the wrong colour (pink rather than lilac)
It smell of an auricula rather than 'resinous'
It's quite dainty, and I will love it (whatever it is).