PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PRIMULA. 



737 



P. Palinuri. This is quite different 

 from other cultivated Primroses, inasmuch 

 as it seems to grow all to leaf and stem ; 

 while many of the other kinds often hide 

 their leaves with flowers. In April its 

 bright yellow flowers appear in a bunch 

 at the top of a powdery stem. They are 

 ornamental, though rarely fulfilling the 

 promise of the vigorous-looking plant, 

 and they emit a Cowslip-like perfume. 

 P. Palinuri flourishes as a border plant 

 in rich light soil in various parts of these 

 islands, and nothing more need be said 

 of its culture. It is well suited for some 

 isolated nook on the rock-garden, where 



P. purpurea. A handsome Primrose, 

 allied to P. denticulata, but far finer, for 

 the exquisite purple flowers are larger. 

 They are borne in heads about 3 in. 

 across. The leaves are entire, and dis- 

 tinguish it from its near relations. 

 Sheltered and warm but not very shady 

 positions either in the rock-garden, or in 

 the open parts of the hardy fernery, will 

 best suit it if the soil is a light, deep, 

 sandy loam, and well enriched with de- 

 composed leaf-mould. It never thrives 

 so well as in nooks at the base of rocks, 

 where it enjoys more heat than it would 

 if exposed. It must not be confused with 



Primula rosea. 



there is an unusually deep bed of soil. 

 Established plants are easily increased 

 by division. Southern Italy. 



P. Parryi. A pretty Primrose, bearing 

 about a dozen large, bright, purple, 

 yellow-eyed flowers nearly I in. across. 

 These flowers are borne on stems about 

 i ft. high. Though an undoubted alpine, 

 and growing on the margins of streams 

 near the snow-line, where its roots are 

 constantly bathed in ice-cold water, it 

 has succeeded in the open border in 

 moist, deep, loamy soil mingled with peat ; 

 it is hardy, and requires partial shade 

 from extreme heat rather than protection 

 from cold. N. America. 



the variety of P. denticulata commonly 

 called by the same name of P. purpurea. 

 P. rosea (Rosy Himalayan Primrose} 

 is a charming little Primrose, with flowers 

 of the loveliest carmine-pink, produced in 

 heads like the Polyanthus. Its pale green 

 leaves form compact tufts, and the flower- 

 stems, 4 to 9 in. high, are produced in 

 early spring, often as many as half a-dozen 

 from one plant. It is perfectly hardy, 

 and though only recently introduced 

 from the Himalayas, has become quite 

 acclimatised, and grows vigorously in 

 almost any soil, preferring, however, a deep 

 rich loam in a moist shady part of the 

 rock-garden. When plentiful it should be 



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