PRIMULA 



PRIMULA 



1429 



either open-air rockery or frame, the charming P. 

 marginata. Curt., of the Maritime Alps." It is a com- 

 pact plant with oblong or oval deeply dentate white- 

 margined Ivs. and purplish fls. B.M. 1!)1. L.B.C. 3:270. 

 For horticultural accounts of Primulas, see Journ. 

 Royal Hort. Soc. 1886, 1891 and 189."); Himalayan Prim- 

 roses, Gn. 16, pp. 5;^4-5,'35 (W. Munro) ; Indian Primroses, 

 Gn. 41, pp. 580-582; Hardy Primulas, Gn. .50, pp. ;i72-376 

 (F. W. Meyer) ; Primroses and their allies, G. C. III. 27, 

 p. 325, et seq. (R. Lindsay). For Mexican Primrose, see 

 <Enothera. L H B 



The genus Primula contains many charming and 

 beautiful species; they not only brighten our gardens in 

 spring and summer, but all through the winter we 

 can enjoy the blossoms of many showy species in our 

 greenhouses. There are many species that can not be 



volved in obscurity, although some think it is a cross 

 between the primrose and the cowslip. It is a favorite 

 garden plant and deserves to be so. Its flowers have 

 charmingly rich colors. They are most generally used 

 as spring bedding plants. When used in this way they 

 ousrht to be planted in beds where they are partially 

 shaded during the hottest part of the day and a liberal 

 supply of water given to them, as they are very im- 

 patient of drought. When they are through blossom- 

 ing they may be removed from the beds, to make room 

 for summer bedding plants, to some moist shady place 

 where they can remain until fall. They are then 

 divided and planted in coldframes for the winter. 

 In spring they are transplanted from there to the beds 

 again. In sheltered parts of the rock garden they can 

 be grown successfully. They take kindly to pot culture, 

 and many of them are grown in this way to decorate 



1951. Primula Sinensis (X }^). A youut! plant, as the flowers are beginning to appear. 



grown in the North, owing to the cold winters and drj', 

 hot summers with which we have to contend. Neverthe- 

 less, with some care a large number of choice species can 

 be grown. There are some which grow luxuriantly out 

 of doors; others can be grown in coldframes with a 

 northern aspect; and a large number are some of our 

 showiest greenhouse plants for winter decoration. 



The species of Primula are generally raised from 

 seed, but varieties which do not come true from seed 

 are increased either by division or cuttings. The seeds 

 of hardy Primroses should be sown soon after they are 

 collected, as their vitality is impaired if they get too dry. 



The European Primrose, Primula vulgaris, with many 

 of its garden forms, thrives admirably in a moist, deep, 

 light soil, with partial shade, and a slight protection 

 of dry leaves or meadow hay in winter. It is easily raised 

 from seed. A good strain is important, if some of the 

 very best varieties are to be obtained. The cowslip, 

 P. officinalis, and the oxlip, P. elafior, grow under the 

 same conditions as the above. The polyanthus has 

 been in cultivation for many years, yet its origin is in- 



conservatories in spring. Of late years the Primrose 

 and polyanthus have been forced in spring by florists 

 for cut-flowers, those with fine yellow blossoms being 

 most in demand. The polyanthus can be raised from 

 seed, but some of the fine varieties are best propagated 

 by division. 



The common auricula, P. Auricula, is best grown in 

 pots in a cool greenhouse or in coldframes. In a pro- 

 tected corner under the shade of some hemlocks at the 

 Harvard Botanic Garden, there has been a good clump 

 of this plant growing and blossoming annually for the 

 past ten years. See Auricula, vol. I. 



P. anriculata, a pretty little Asia Minor species, can 

 be grown in a warm sheltered position. P. cortusoides 

 blossoms very early in spring, and requires slight pro- 

 tection and a warm position. There are many varieties 

 of this plant. P. farinosa is a beautiful native plant 

 requiring a stiff loam and a damp situation with shade 

 during the warmest part of the day. P. denticulata 

 comes from the Himalayan Mountains and is quite hardy 

 in the rock garden, grown in a moist, deep, rich, loamy 



