PRIMULAS

Southland Times, Issue 22774, 27 December 1935, Page 12

PRIMULAS

THEIR NATIVE HABITAT. (By P. A. Vallange, F.R.H.S.) In writing this article I do so in the hope that it may induce many true lovers of horticulture to take up and study this intensely interesting genus. In the first place we are indebted to the late Professor Pax, who was the pioneer in dealing with the sections of primula and who presented his monograph on primulaceae to the Royal Horticultural Society in May, 1905. Grateful appreciation has been paid to the author by all interested in the genus. Upon Pax’s death this work was carried on by Professor Bayley Balfour, who increased Pax’s 21 sections to 32, these being provisional, some of them, especially the smaller ones, were convenient placements for certain little-known or little-understood species, which had then no clear affinity with the larger sections. In Balfour’s later papers he gave here and there clear indication of changes of view. Unfortunately, he did not live to give these complete written expression. Mention must also be made of those great explorers and collectors, Dr Handel-Mazzetti, Captain Kingdon Ward, Mr George Forrest, and njany others who spent years in collecting seeds and specimens in Yunnan, Sikkim, Hunan, West Szechwan, etc. Although the centre of genus is in China a very small part is involved; for instance, there is tropical China, in which no primulas grow at all. The genus is represented in the tropics only on a few high mountains, but tropical China has no mountains high enough. The province of the highland and the high mountains of Yunnan and West Szechwan is the real home of the genus primula where more than a third part of all the species is indigenous. In their native habitat primulas are found up to an altitude of 16,000 feet, and are naturally frozen for many months of the year under which conditions they are preserved until the arrival of the warm spring rains, when they immediately emerge into growth. With our wet winters and excessive moisture many varieties are exceedingly difficult to cultivate owing to the decay which attacks them, although in the growing season they require plenty of moisture, with, of course good drainage. As we cannot alter the climate in which we work, we must substitute for climatic peculiarities different types of soil and situations which do not entirely but only partly coincide with their natural soil conditions. The most suitable compost for growing primulas is good loam with plenty of humus added in the form of good sweet leaf soil and a liberal quantity of sand. The bulk of primulas do far better in a bed. The bed provided for them should not be too much under the drip from trees or exposed to too much sun and, as already mentioned, good drainage is essential, with plenty of watering in times of drought. In dealing with the sections I will take mostly those that any amateur with ordinary care and attention can grow successfully and increase in the natural ways. Denticulata. —Primulas of this section are noteworthy in being among the first of the Asiatic species to flower in spring. P. Denticulata is the best of this section, and examination of the plants in flower reveals slight variations in colour, form, etc., but most are of various shades of lavender; there is also a good white. P. Cachemiriana is also a good member of this section, although it has been eliminated from the list of species and sub-species, as it is doubtful and probably of garden origin. The next section to flower is Farinosae. This section has the widest geographical distribution in the genus, and is found in Europe, Asia, Japan, parts of China. North America, the Arctic,

and Antarctic. P. Farinosa is the best known in this section, and is a dainty little plant with lavender flowers, and usually flowers early in October. Of equal merit is P. Rosea, which is a beautiful rose colour and grown in a damp position; in the rockery it is a little gem. P. Frondosa is also easy to grow, and is similar to P. Farinosa. All these are free seeders, and are easily propagated either by division or seed. In the Nivales section P. Chionantha is by far the most useful garden plant. One of the most beautiful of all Primulas with its cream-coloured blossoms and jade-green powdered leaves, it flowers in the early spring, and is a free seeder. The auricula section contains many beautiful varieties, and the majority prefer to be planted between rocks, with protection for the crowns in the winter. P. Pubescens, Var. Faldonside, is brilliant crimson; Var. Generosity is red; P. Hirsuta, red; P. Marginata, a rich violet; P. Viscosa, reddish-violet; P. Auricula, yellow. They are all of easy cultivation, and make quite a good show in the rockery in spring. About this time we have the Yernales section flowering, and there are many gems in it. P. Juliae is probably the best known, and although the plant is only about one to two inches high, it spreads rapidly and never fails to produce a carpet of delightful little purple flowers. We also have P. Elatior, which is really like a minature yellow Polyanthus and is quite a good doer. P. Juliae has produced many hybrids, and there are quite a few named varieties now. and I was fortunate enough to secure a collection from a Christchurch enthusiast, and they have given no end of pleasure. We now come to the Candelabra section, the first of which to bloom is P. Japonica, which has a wide range of colours, including white, pink, red, and cerise. Care must be taken to grow only the best forms and this is easily done by selection. P. Pulverulenta flowers next, and this primula has many colours similar to P. Japonica, but the best, is the Bartley strain, amongst which is a beautiful shell pink. It is at this time we realize what a wealth of pleasure is in store for us and look forward eagerly to the flowering of the bulk of the primulas, such as P. Cockburniana, a dwarf Candelabra with orange flower. P. Chungensis, a yellow-flowered species, P. Burmanica, although somewhat aggressive in colour, is quite good. P. Poissonii, rose-mauve, and P. Anisodora, with small blackish flowers with a yellow eye. P. Helodoxa, which is one of the finest and should be cultivated by everyone interested in primulas, it prefers more moisture than do most, and is very easy to establish; in colour it is bright yellow, and is one of the few primulas which are evergreen. P. Bulleyana, golden yellow, shaded orange-buff, and P. Beesiana, magenta hues, are both fine and have produced many hybrids. The Annesgrove hybrids are good, the best of which is Tangerine, and there is also a good cerise. The Edina and Ipswich hybrids are also beautiful and have a wide range of colours. All in this section seed freely, with the exception of many of the hybrids which are sterile, and propagation is by division only. The Sikkimensis section, like the Candelabra section, provides many of the best garden plants. P. Sikkimensis itself is hard to beat, being a beautiful yellow. P. Florindae, one of the giants, is also yellow, and an excellent grower and would be worth growing for the foliage alone. In the Microdontas, P. Microdonta Alba (white), P. Microdonta Rosea (rose), P. Microdonta Violacea violet), and P. Microdonta Alpicola (yellow), form a charming group, and all prefer a shady position with moisture and good drainage. P. Secundiflora is perfectly hardy, and has purple-flowered bells. In the Muscarioides section P. Littoniana stands alone, the florescence being in the nature of a spike sometimes 6in. long, being red with purple bracts.