160 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



lilac colour, are produced in March and April. It is 

 found on calcareous mountains near the Lake of Como, 

 and succeeds in a similar position to that advised for 

 P. Clusiana. 



P. hirsuta. One of the commonest alpine Primulas, 

 found on the Alps and Pyrenees, mostly on granite. It 

 forms rosettes of pubescent leaves, and bears flowers 

 of various shades of rosy purple in May and June. 

 It may be grown in cracks, or planted in pockets in the 

 rock garden in a mixture of sandy peat and loam, with 

 plenty of broken stones mixed with it. It is very variable 

 in colour ; and perhaps the most beautiful and easily 

 grown form of it is P. h. var. alba, mostly known in gardens 

 as P. nivalis or nivea. This has lovely pure white flowers, 

 and increases as freely as an ordinary border plant in 

 many places. 



P. integrifolia is a limestone plant, from the European 

 Alps, with small tufts of leaves and rose-coloured flowers, 

 in April, that are very large in proportion to the size 

 of the plant. 



P. marginata. One of the easiest to grow, as well as 

 being one of the longest-lived Primulas. It likes a sunny 

 position, and is worth growing for its beautiful silvery 

 leaves, which have a waved golden margin. It comes 

 from the Alps of Dauphiny and Piedmont, and grows 

 well in gritty loam, with plenty of broken limestone 

 mixed with it. Its pale lilac flowers are produced in 

 early spring. 



P. minima. A very small plant with crowded tufts 



