Primula forbesii

[mark smyth]

I bought Primula forbesii in a nursery in Ireland but they didnt know how and where to grow it. Can someone tell me please. Stunning just now

[Michael J Campbell]

Mark, Primula Forbesii is from Yunnan and grows in Marshes,canal edges, and uncultivated  rice paddy fields, so would need damp conditions.
Are you sure you have the real thing because it flowers from November until February.

[mark smyth]

yep. It looks just like this
http://www.primulaworld.com/PWWeb/gallery/slides/forbesiiDR1.html

[mark smyth]

well there goes the idea of planting it with Hostas in a trough. I'm currently planting three troughs with miniature Hostas, Hepaticas, Anemonellas and ..... just now I cant think of other small plants that will cope the no direct sun until midday at this time of year and again in late evening. What do you suggest?

[Lesley Cox]

I don't know it at all but it looks like it could be related to P. malacoides. However, the Tod Boland pictures say it comes from NW Argentina! According to Richards' book, the only South American primula is P. magellanica. Is this a very recent discovery?

[Lesley Cox]

Re your trough Mark, how about soldanellas, houstonias, some other tiny primulas such as reidii or petiolaris? All these would be finished their flowering by the time the hostas really came into much growth. Then you could try a cyananthus or two for later, autumn flowers.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I find Erythronium also to go nicely with Hostas - they're gone when the Hostas come up.  As would a lot of other bulbs to I guess.

[Lesley Cox]

I thought about erys but wondered if the troughs would be deep enough. Try Hacquetia epipactis, Scoliopus bigelovii, Iris winogradowii and `Katharine Hodgkin,' the littlest scillas etc. You'll need bigger troughs

[mark smyth]

The troughs are quite small. I'll measure them tomorrow. Some good ideas there but I wont be putting too many bulbs in. Wee ones maybe. I have already selected Hepaticas

[arisaema]

Maybe you could use some of the small Thalictrums, like T. ichiangense 'Chinese Chintz'. Beesia calthifolia, Coptis quinquefolia and Isopyrum nipponicum are other possibilities.

[mark smyth]

the troughs are 14x28 inches 36x72xm

Some of the plants being suggested I havent heard of so I'll have to do some research later