PBIMULA 



PBIMBOSE ORDEB 



PRIMULA 607 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 Himalayan species is apt to die out after 

 one or two seasons in some gardens, and it 

 is tlierefore advisable to raise it regularly 

 from seeds, which are usually freely pro- 

 duced. It seems to thrive under opposite 

 conditions according to locality. With 

 some it ilourishes in a moist soil with 

 shade and shelter ; and with others in 

 situations fully exposed to the sun. Under 

 the latter conditions it assumes richer 

 tints of colour and seeds freely. 



P. carniolica (P. Freyeri; P. jellen- 

 hiama). — A native of the Carinthian and 

 Camiolan Alps with leaves in large loose 

 rosettes, individually about 2 in. long, 

 ovate lance-shaped, smooth, shining. 

 Flowers in April and May, pale to deep 

 blue, with a whitish centre, 3-10 on a 

 stalk 3-4 in. high. The variety niulticeps 

 has larger and deeper blue flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. The rock garden 

 in free soil. 



P. cemua. — ^A pretty Chinese species, 

 with short broadly-ovate crenulate leaves. 

 Flowers in July, deep purple-blue, several 

 on top of the stalk. 



Culture Ac. as above. Requires chalky 

 soil in sheltered spots in the rockery. 



P. clusiana. — A pretty Tyrolese species 

 6-9 in. high. Leaves slightly downy, 

 broadly ovate, obscurely toothed. Flowers 

 in April and May, about 1 in. across, 

 bright rose, in stalked umbels. 



Culture dc. as above. Free loamy 

 soil in the rookery or border. 



P. cortusoides. — ^A distinct Siberian 

 species 6-10 in. high. Leaves 2-4 in. long, 

 soft, wrinkled, heart-shaped, rather lobed 

 and toothed, on long stalks. Flowers in 

 early summer, deep rose, over 1 m. across, 

 on scapes about 6 in. long. There are 

 many forms. 



Culture dc. as above. Light rich, 

 weU-drained soil in sunny parts of the 

 rockery or border suits this Primula very 

 well. It is easily raised from seed. 



P. cridalensis. — A beautiful natural 

 hybrid from the Tyrol between P. tyro- 

 lensis and P. wulfeniana. Leaves 

 roughish, broadly ovate, slightly fringed. 

 Flowers in April and May, large, rosy- 

 purple. 



Culture dc. as above. Somewhat 

 chalky soil in sunny exposed parts of the 

 rockery. 



P. daonensis (P. cenensis). — A little 

 gem from the Tyrol and Swiss Alps. 

 Leaves obovate serrate, glandular hairy 

 on both sides. Flowers in May and June, 

 very large, pale rose with a white centre. 



CuUiire dc. as above. Moist sandy 

 loam and leaf soil in exposed sunny parts 

 of the rockery. 



P. davurica. — A native of Dahuria and 

 Siberia about 3 in. high. Leaves lanceolate 

 spoon-shaped, almost entire, smooth. 

 Flowers in May, salver-shaped, pink with 

 a pale lemon centre, many in a head. 



Culture dc. as above. Sandy soil with 

 leaf mould in warm parts of the rookery. 



P. Delavayi. — A distinct Chinese 

 species with broadly ovate, roimdish or 

 heart-shaped leaves. Flowers in August, 

 appearing before the leaves, large, deep 

 purple, on staUis 1 ft. or more high. 



Culture dc. as above. Damp clayey 

 loam in the rockery or border. 



P. denticulata. — A handsome vigorous 

 Himalayan species 8-12 in. high. Leaves 

 wrinkled, oblong lance-shaped, toothed, 

 hairy, especially the under surface, which 

 is also covered with a white powder. 

 Flowers in spring and early summer, about 

 J in. across, bright lUac, in dense round 

 heads or umbels. The variety pulcherrima 

 has large trusses of deeper lUac blossoms, 

 and is an improvement on the type. Hen- 

 ryi is similar to pulcherrima, but more 

 vigorous in growth. Cashmeriam.a is a 

 lovely variety with oblong toothed leaves, 

 pale green above, covered with golden 

 powder beneath. Flowers from March to 

 May, dark lUac or pale purple, in round 

 heads on stout powdery stalks about 1 ft. 

 high. The chief attraction of the variety 

 alba consists in its trusses of white 

 flowers. There is also a variegated form 

 in which the leaves are edged with white. 



Culture and, Propagation. — These 

 plants floiu'ish in moist rich loamy well- 

 manured SOU either in the flower border 

 or rockery in sunny situations, somewhat 

 sheltered, as the leaves are apt to suffer 

 by the spring frosts. Too much wet in 

 winter causes the crowns to rot unless pro- 

 tected with sheets of glass or handlights. 



P. dinyana. — A Bavarian natural 

 hybrid between P. integrifoUa and P. 

 viscosa. Leaves 3-4 in. long, ovate lance- 

 shaped, slightly toothed and fringed. 

 Flowers in spring, deep purple, produced 

 freely, 4-10 flowers in rather large heads 



