Primula-February to April 2008

[David Nicholson]

A few more Primula from the greenhouse today. The first two are Primula bilekii, or to give it its full title P. x forsteri forma bilekii (I think!); followed by a couple of P. pubescens Mrs J H Wilson; and to finish the second of my seedlings to flower from open pollinated seed collected from my P. Blue Wave.

[David Nicholson]

Just received today an order of some Primula marginata cultivars from Susan Tindall at Timpany Nurseries in Northern Ireland. Cracking plants, really well packed, and marvellous service.

http://www.timpanynurseries.com/

[Kristl Walek]

As Christine has noted, we have gone straight from winter to full-blown (temporary) summer here in Ontario, with winter due to return in a few days time. Over this surprising week of 25C+ temperatures, the primulas have not quite known what is up.

Miraculously blooming all at the same time are P. elatior and form meyeri, denticulata, darialica, juliae, marginata, rosea, various allioni, and hirsuta.

In a normal year, all that would be in bloom right now are P. rosea and denticulata.

[Kristl Walek]

Unlike all the others, the marginatas are not having a great flowering year.

The batch of hirsutas were grown from wild seed received from our own Mr. Hadacek...and have produced a few plants with slightly fringed petals.

Primula marginata
 Primula allioni_hyb
 Primula allioni_hyb1
 Primula hirsuta
 Primula hirsuta_laciniata

[Lesley Cox]

At the risk of being a pain (again) I don't think your P. juliae IS P. juliae. A hybrid perhaps but not a very close one.

[Kristl Walek]

how right you are, Leslie.....2 pictures of P. elatior meyeri in a row by mistake....here's that lovely little devil which has within 3 years almost entirely filled a rather large section of the woodland garden. you go girl!!!!!

[Magnar]

Spring has also at last come to North Norway.
Primula sonchifolia is always the first of the Primulas to flower in my garden.

[tboland]

That sonchifolia is stunning!  Wish we could grow those here but I cannot even get seed to germinate.

Everything is at a stand-still here...a low-pressure system is stationary off the coast so day after day of fog and 1-2 C...the crocus will bloom into June I expect and alpine primula into July!

[David Nicholson]

Nice to see the Primula sonchifolia Magnar, yet another Primula that hates my conditions.

[johanneshoeller]

A Primula from Gardasee - grown from wild collected seed (acid soil)!

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Kristl, that's better. P.juliae is a favourite because of that very creeping habit. It's lovely between rocks, filling a crevice.

Congratulatons Magnar, on your gorgeous P. sonchifolia. Though after seeing Finn Haugli's marvellous pictures of plants at Tromso, I think they are relatively easy to grow in Norway, with a cooler climate and moist soil, snow cover in winter and maybe lacking the very hot, drying winds that we have.  All the same, yours is still anachievement that I found impossible.

One small question; I do grow the related P. bhutanica successfully but I have noticed that the new leaves are like yours, somewhat twisted and marked and I'm wondering if my plants have picked up a virus somewhere. What do you think?

[Armin]

Lovely primulas from everybody.

In my lawn ordinary P.veris are in full flower. I love them and they spread readily.
Below picture shows a form with larger orange markings. It is the first time I found it. Therefore thought it is worth posting it.
It was very windy when I took the picture. It looks like I'm choking the flower bunch.

 

[Lesley Cox]

That's a very nice form Armin. Do you have a pic of the whole plant?

[ian mcenery]

Great pics everyone such great plants

Here is one from from a friends alpine house today. Good enough to eat 

[Maggi Young]

Super P. bracteata.... I think this is one of the primulas that is most popular on this year's show benches....  they seem to be at every show.... I think the flowers are very pretty, but it is the foliage and growth habit that I find really attractive