Tips And Ideas For Garden Lovers

Primula Bulleyana Candelabra primrose

This exceedingly striking, semi-evergreen candelabra primrose, with up to seven tiers, opens its whorled flowers from bottom to top. The flowers are initially red orange, but later fade to a warm yellow tone. Likes semi-shaded, moist, slightly acid soils.

Primula Denticulata Drumstick primrose

The spherical, violet flower umbels of the drumstick primrose, whose flower stems can grow up to 1 foot (30 centimeters) high above the leaf rosettes, are truly enchanting. The drumstick primroses prefer a semi-shaded site with moist humus soil.

Primula Elatior Oxlip

P. elatior, also known as the oxlip, bears umbels of two to twelve yellow flowers on upright stems. Likes moist, humus-rich soil. Semi-evergreen.

Primula Farinosa Birdeye primrose

The lilac-colored flower umbels of P. farinosa are covered with a white "flour," hence the botanical name. Prefers moist, slightly acidic, humus soil.

Primula  Auricula, Primrose, Cowslip

Everyone knows the small, pretty Primula hybrids which, with their vivid, brightly- colored show of flowers, herald the start of spring very early in the year. The word "primula" does after all come from the word for "first." Besides these popular, mainly cushion-forming, classics, there are also a large number of other Primula species which bloom in a truly astounding variety of forms: in layers, umbels, globes, and even in elongated spikes.

Most of the species love semi-shaded positions, but some will also tolerate sun, provided that the soil is adequately moist, as Primulas appreciate a moist, cool site. For this reason, care must be taken to ensure that the soil is kept constantly moist without causing water logging. A little fertilizer in the spring will promote flowering. In places with very harsh weather conditions, a protective blanket of spruce branches or a fairly thick layer of foliage will help with overwintering. The diversity of forms means that they can be used in different ways: as woodland-edge or water-edge plantings, in beds and rock gardens, or even as pot plants.