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13 April 2005
Promiscuous Primulas
Mentally surveying some of the delights of spring, many of which will soon be at their best I recall with gratitude the candleabra primulas.
These are with me in April; pencil-slim stems which rise to 18’’ or so, bearing small flowers arranged in concentric circles, rising in tiers above modest and attractive foliage.
The whole plant looks like an upside-down miniature chandelier of the very best Waterford Crystal, equally desirable I may add, and a treasure of great merit for the spring and early summer garden. In any garden centre you’ll be offered the likes of Primula japonica in crimson or yellow but an altogether better primula is that known as ‘Postford’s White’, named I expect, for its exceptional colour.
Alongside you may see several other forms in pink and apricot shades-the expected end result of an open promiscuity among the former pair, and others in the same family!. All the primula family are notoriously promiscuous and even the wellloved and highly respected polyanthus is the result of a relationship between a cowslip and a primrose.
Around the edge of a garden pool, in what is nowadays lovingly regarded as a ‘bog garden’ these will look magnificent, and when happily settled in the heavy, moisture retentive ground, will seed about their position with a vulgarity that will stagger. Were I you however, I would grow but two colours (that Postford’s White, and an exciting choice in yellow, Primula helodoxa) keeping both as far from one another as is possible.
If grown too close together, expect the resulting seedlings to be a wishy-washy pink at best, or an anaemic magenta at worst. I find it hard to understand why such obliging plants are not grown more often, and more importantly, why they are not grown in huge drifts on the occasions they are encountered, seeing, as I have already pointed out, that they self seed with a staggering willingness. Less than a generation ago they were high fashion but a fall from grace has now reduced their numbers drastically.
I suppose it goes to show that yesterdays favourite can all too easily become today’s abomination, but these really do deserve to be brought back. Like many of my ‘better’ choices, one plant (bought and grown this season) will make you hundreds for the next.
Be warned that our friend the vine-weevil has a distinct liking for all members of the primula family and for this reason it would be advisable to take preventative measures over the course of the summer months. ‘Provado’ is just the answer for those who find it hard to keep stocks clean and free from these root pests but you must remain always diligent.
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