Auricula Show (National Primula and Auricula Society) Newbottle May 2015

[ChrisB]

I took some pics at this show today
1. Ist prize for non-auricula in novice section. Sorry didn't get species name
2. Orwell Tiger
3. Wye Hen

[ChrisB]

4. Icon
5. Prima
6. Stella South
7. Bilbo Baggins

[ChrisB]

8. Jeff Scurton
9. Vera
10. Red Admiral
11. Joel

[ChrisB]

12. Eaton Dawn
13. Night Eyes
14. Escombe
15. Lemon Drop

[ChrisB]

16. Warwick
17. Sappho
18. Prague

[johnstephen29]

Great photos chris of some great plants.

[Jupiter]

I absolutely adore Primula auricula. Alas they detest Adelaide summers. I lost 5 (out of 5) just recently. 

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Chris for these lovely images of beautiful plants. But, forgive me here, I'm tjhinking there is a rush to name anything and everything. Let's be honest, there are an awful lot of very similar plants with different names. In a very short time, confusion will be the order of the day and many will have their names mixed up. Is it just one person/firm naming all these or are there several different breeders all doing their bit to grab the market?

[ChrisB]

Hi Lesley,
I'll be corrected if wrong, but I think I read somewhere that auriculas have to be shown and given awards as seedlings at shows before they can be given names.  I agree there are many many names and some very similar plants, but at least there are colour variations and suchlike with them, much more than with snowdrops 

[David Nicholson]

Spot on Chris. In the National Auricula and Primula Society Shows there are seedling classes and a raiser whose plant wins a class is invited to name the plant. Unless seedlings are of high quality and maintain the notion of 'difference' they won't win and won't get named.

[ChrisB]

They are very serious about it. It took the judges a long time to complete their task at this show, much longer than at our alpine shows. And there were far fewer exhibits to be assessed. And their society has been in existence for a long time apparently since 1873. So their rules and regulations have stood the test of time!

[Lesley Cox]

Well that's OK for the UK I suppose, but in effect it means that no-one else anywhere could legitimately name an auricula, no matter how good it was. Sorry, no thanks.