Primula-February to April 2008

[David Nicholson]

Here are the first two Primula hybrids to flower in the greenhouse this year. A little earlier than I wanted but welcome all the same.

Primula 'Lindum Moonlight' and P. 'Wharfedale Superb'

[ChrisB]

Very pretty, David 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I love Lindum Moonlight David - very delicate colours !

[David Nicholson]

Thanks both. Lindum Moonlight is a smasher Luc. It was bred in Lincoln and there are a whole series of hybrids under the 'Lindum' banner which always do well in Primula Shows. Many of them are much sought after by the good Primula growers and they are very hard to get hold of.

[Maggi Young]

David, is this Lindum stable more connected to the Primula world than the AGS/SRGC world ? I can't say I recognise it , though that may because I'm getting dimmer by the day but I wondered if it was a breeder more from the primula/auricula societies than the alpine ones? Super cheery plants.

[ChrisB]

When you take pics in pots like that, do you put some sort of backing behind them David?  They have turned out really well.

[Maggi Young]

He's not here, Chris, I bet he's gone to the pub for a pint.

[Lvandelft]

This Lindum Moonlight is so clear, beautiful!
I've tried several Wharfedale Types, but the ones I had where always a bit wishywashy in their colour.
Luit

[Tony Willis]

Some vulgaris in various colour forms plus a natural hybrid between vulgaris yellow and ssp sibthorpii in mauve. It produces different coloured flowers on the same plant

[Armin]

Tony,
beautiful forms of P.vulgaris and ssp. sibthorpii.
Mine are not yet open in the garden.

[Tony Willis]

Armin it is difficult to believe but they are in flower for 10 months of the year.We are very wet and they self seed all over the garden.

[Paul T]

Beautiful Primulas Tony!!

[Armin]

Tony,
amazing long flowering period. I have P.vulgaris, P.elatior & P.veris in my garden.
Some selfseeded hybrids between vulgaris and/or elatior/veris show flower as early as December and have a prolonged flowering season too.
Last year surprisingly a hybrid showed single stems with single flower (like vulgaris) and single stem with multiple flowers (like elatior/veris) together. Will observe if this happens this year again.
But usual vulgaris is the first (E/Jan) in flower, followed by elatior (March/April) and then veris (April).
I have also a seedling which resembles strongly like a pale violet P. vulgaris ssp. sibthorpii but have no explanation for that.
Likely it has been pollinated by bees carring pollen from other garden hybrids.

[Tony Willis]

Armin my sibthorpii come from sea level about 100 miles east of Istanbul. They were growing in millions as the dominant plant under what I think may have been hazel bushes and were in flower in March. The hybrids were collected in may at about 2000 metres near Samsun in Eastern Turkey. They were growing with galanthus rhizahensis.

I also have elatior/veris but do not expect these to flower until late April

[Armin]

Tony,
the combination of hazel bushes, primula vulgaris and wet soil conditions in spring seem to be a favourable for good growth.
I saw similar in the Swiss near Montreux some years ago.