Primula vulgaris ssp sibthorpii .... colour forms

[Tony Lee]

from Tony W. : my G.  rizehensis seed was from a mountain to the west of Rize near Unye. It was growing with a very nice mixed selection of crosses between Primula vulgaris with yellow flowers and purple ssp sibthorpii. Also a very nice dentaria which I am sorry to say has since died .

Hello Tony,as you have mentioned Primula vulgaris ssp sibthorpii i wondered what is your oppinion of the white form,? (this may not be the page for this question and Maggie may wish to move it)I think you would have been around in Nottingham at the time when some of the plants in the late Sturt Piggins garden were removed,Some of his plants went to AGS HQ at Pershore, The white P vulgaris ssp sibthorpii was one of these,It is said to have been collected  in Lebanon by the said SP,I wondered if you had this plant,I know many of the people who were there at the time have lost it.Cheers Tony L       

[Tony Willis]

Tony you a re correct Maggi may want to move this to primula.

I knew Sturt and have visited his garden when we lived in Nottingham.After his death I did receive a plant of the ' Lebanon' collection of Primula vulgaris.I  have seen many P. vulgaris in white, yellow and also purple forms over Turkey, Greece,Spain etc . Although Robert Rolfe extols the virtues of this plant I think it is no better than other white ones I have seen in The Hatay in Turkey and do not think it is exceptional. I have grown a large number of P. vulgaris forms in pots for a number of years until recently keeping them separate but have now planted them in the garden. There seemed no interest in them and they were not thriving. Although I carefully labelled them the blackbirds have been at work and equally lots of seedlings have appeared. So the answer is yes I still have it and I think this is a picture of it.

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Chaps, I have moved you bodily to this place..... I had my porridge this morning!

[Maggi Young]

By the way, was Sturt Piggins'  name really "Sturt" ?? 

[Tony Willis]

Maggi

I really enjoyed the move . I do believe that Sturt was his name. He was a lovely man and very knowledgeable in a modest way.

here are some other primula pictures. The first is a white from the Zigana Pass which is just as good as the Lebanon form and then a ssp sibthorpii which is quite wonderful in the garden. This was growing in millions under hazels. The last two show the yellow form in habitat at Lake Abant in an area which is now largely built over with new hotels and picnic spots..

[Maggi Young]

I do believe that Sturt was his name. He was a lovely man and very knowledgeable in a modest way.

Fancy that, I have spent years thinking the poor fellow was a spelling error. 

I really enjoyed the move

  That's good, I tried to be gentle! 

There is something simple and enchantingly perfect about a primrose, isn't there?  Sweet and natural and so lovely - if only there were still lots of places with swathes of them growing, as I remember from my childhood.... only see a few nowadays, sadly.

[Tony Lee]

Thanks for that info Tony,I thought i was the only one in this area to have it.
Maggie I always thought Sturt was short for Sturtivant,Probably the shorter is the better.

[maggiepie]

What an amazing sight, reminds me of white freesias growing wild in places in Australia.

[Maggi Young]

Maggie I always thought Sturt was short for Sturtivant, Probably the shorter is the better.

Mercy, me, it gets worse!  Never heard such a name!  Probably of historic origin, eh?

What an amazing sight, reminds me of white freesias growing wild in places in Australia.

Now that's a sight I'd like to smell!

[fermi de Sousa]

What an amazing sight, reminds me of white freesias growing wild in places in Australia.

Helen,
one of my earliest "horticultural" memories in Australia is an embankment where the freesias had naturalised - and yes, it was a wonderful scent, Maggi!
I wish the primulas would do the same here but it's too hot
cheers
fermi

[maggiepie]

Fermi, not sure how freesias naturalise in victoria, but around the hunter valley they are everywhere in spring, fantastic.

Btw, who is your footy team, Collingwood?

[fermi de Sousa]

Fermi, not sure how freesias naturalise in victoria, but around the hunter valley they are everywhere in spring, fantastic.
Btw, who is your footy team, Collingwood?

The Storm!
Actually, none, but if anyone asks me that's the one I'd choose!
My partner is a lapsed Magpie supporter!
cheers
fermi

[maggiepie]

but if anyone asks me that's the one I'd choose!

Good answer!!

[Tony Willis]

Some Turkish Primula vulgaris forms open in the garden now.

The natural hybrid does have the two coloured flowers,they have not faded,some open pink and others yellow.

[Gerdk]

Aren't these colour forms beautiful? I saw the same variations in 2009 above
Artvin - including the bicoloured one.
Unfortunately these little beauties cross with each related Primula - our vulgaris for instance.

I add another Turkish delight - Primula amoena or P. elatior ssp. meyeri

Gerd