2025

The sunshine and dry weather is meant to be coming to an end tomorrow (Saturday) with some welcome rain. Who would have thought that I would have “welcome” and “rain” in the same sentence. We are normally wishing it would stop! There is a possibility of warm weather returning after a week of unsettled weather according to the forecast. I apologise for a complete focus on meconopsis and primulas this week, but my two favourite genera are now in flower.

This is the first time I have actually bought meconopsis plants as I have previously always raised them from seed. Meconopsis ‘Crarae’ comes from Crarae Gardens Argyll, Scotland. It is an infertile hybrid and therefore only propagated vegetatively. I had seen it in Scotland several years ago and have always wanted one, so that, coupled with my impatience after loosing a batch of seedlings two years ago, prompted the purchase last year.

Primula chungensis is more delicate looking than the more robust japonica candelabras, but like them, it is a water lover and thrives in a damp spot.

Meconopsis ‘Crewdson Hybrid’ coming into flower next to a clump of Primula japonica caught in the early morning sun. If anyone is interested please view my post on primulas at: https://ricksplantworld.blog/2025/03/05/primulas-updated/

More Meconopsis ‘Crarae’ caught in the early morning sun, displaying the fine hairs on the leaves and stem.

Two plants from seed sown last year. These will be planted out later in the year if I can find room! Note the much hairier leaves on ‘Lingholm’. If you are interested in the meconopsis please take a look at my post at: https://ricksplantworld.blog/2022/02/09/meconopsis/

Finally a photo’ of Meconopsis ‘Crarae’ without the sun burning out the colour, showing its true self.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Popular bulbs, corms, rhizomes etc……… the non-fibrous rooted plants. Part 1. Re-published.

When I first started this blog, having scrapped any that had gone before, it was mainly as a brain exercise. I came across the Six on Saturday meme run by Jim Stephens at Garden Ruminations and, through that, organically increased my presence on the web. This has prompted me to re-publish some of my old material some of which is updated. These posts are purely about the plants that I have grown and photographed, mainly in my previous garden, unless otherwise stated.

With the early spring flowers coming mainly from plants which aren’t fibrous rooted I thought a description of some of the genera would be topical. I don’t claim this to be a comprehensive list as the variety of plants and their preferences is too wide a subject to cover and many books have been written about them. In the case of where to plant, this in itself is impossible to generalise as even a single genus can have originated from diverse locations and climatic conditions. This is then an overview of those plants that I have grown and my own experience. Many plants which are actually, though not obviously, rhizomatous are included in the Hardy Perennial posts.

Alliums

Alliums are no longer thought of as glorified onions but as a useful addition to any border. They have benefited from being marketed well by the bulb companies and are relatively easy to produce. Beware of advertisements offering allium collections at cheap prices as they very often include such as A.sphaerocephalon which in itself is attractive but the bulbs are tiny and the flowers are very small so check the varieties before you buy. The received advice is to plant the bulbs in a sunny border at least 6″ deep, although this doesn’t apply to the smaller bulbs and should be treated as a guide only. Personally I have successfully grown them in a quite shaded mixed border in proximity to deciduous shrubs, they benefit by being left alone where they will quite happily multiply forming attractive clumps. Many of the early ones poke through the ground with, or just after, the spring flowering bulbs but it is best to be aware that the large strapped shaped leaves can become very unsightly after flowering so planting amongst herbaceous perennials that will hide them is a good idea.

**Nectaroscordum siculum syn. Allium siculum, Allium nectaracsardium**.

Nectaroscordum siculum or the Sicilian Honey Garlic is an unusual relative with beautiful pendant flowers, this one definitely needs a sunny spot, in shade it will contort its stems trying to reach the sun which I found out to my cost.

Anemone species.

Several species of anemone are grown from rhizomatous rootstocks, the best known of these are A.blanda and A.nemorosa the best known species to be grown from corms is Anemone coronaria often known as the Florists Anemone being used widely as cut flowers, the ‘De Caen Group’ are particularly noteworthy.

I have always treated A.nemerosa as it’s name suggests as a woodlander, cool dappled shade suiting it best. Remember as a forest dweller it flowers early before the forest canopy develops and does need sun for the flowers to open. Anemone blanda is quite versatile but again needs the sun to open fully. Anemone coronaria I have never had any success with and to be frank I don’t particularly like, I always visualise it growing in orderly rows as part of a commercial enterprise in the Channel Islands where I think it is best suited and should remain.

Chionodoxa luciliae

Chionodoxas or Glory of the Snow, as their common name implies, are early spring flowering bulbs from such places as Greece and Turkey and now classified as Scilla. Easy to grow and if left to their own devices will multiply by bulblets and seed. Looks well naturalizing in grassland where they are quite at home.

Colchicum

Known as the Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and not to be confused with Crocus sativus which also goes by the same name but is actually the Saffron Crocus. The flowers emerge at the end of summer on naked stems, hence another common name of Naked Ladies, the leaves developing after flowering.

Easy to grow in any decent deep soil the main problem being remembering where they are during the summer dormancy so it is another bulb (strictly a corm) that lends itself to being naturalized in grass. Used in medicine to produce a strong anti-inflammatory best known as Colchicine which is used in the treatment of gout. Colchicum autumnale is one of several species that come from Europe and the Mediterranean so will grow in the UK, there are others that are native to Africa. Unlike crocuses they belong to the lily family. This photograph was not taken in my garden.

Crocus

Crocus is a very large and diverse genus and one which I have little experience with, easy to grow from corms, plants range from the much hybridized larger late flowering “Dutch” types (Crocus vernus), like those pictured above, to the smaller early hybrids raised from such as C. chrysanthus like those below.

**Crocus chrysanthus ‘Zwanenburg Bronze’**

Crocuses are members of the Iris family and can be found from hot arid areas to arctic tundra although many come from the Eastern Mediterranean, probably best grown under some ground cover or in grass to make sure they are not disturbed when dormant.

The next post will feature erythroniums amongst others.

Six on Saturday 17/05/2025

Weather-wise we have had a couple of light frosts at the beginning of the month and haven’t had any appreciable rainfall for weeks. We have had no rain in May, only 18mm in the whole of April, and the dry weather is set to continue for at least another week. It has been fascinating watching the weather radar, any rain clouds that did appear always veered away from our location! At least, now I have a small garden, it does make watering less of a task.

Inherited paeony of unknown origins. For some reason it thrives in a shaded dry spot but produces many flowers every year. Technically the photo’ is not good but I like the “silvering” and shade contrast.

**Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’**

I am very appreciative of viburnums, I know they can have a problem with viburnum beetle which can badly affect the evergreen species, but, in my opinion, if this one was evergreen it would be perfect.

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) can be a rampant spreader but having been offered a clump from a friend, and having several “difficult” areas in the garden I thought “why not”! It is relatively well contained although it has manged to appear in the joints of the adjacent flags. I do tend to go for many native and tough plants as much of my garden is on an old railway yard which I originally planted out with a pick and trenching tool which in fact I have used today!

The candelabra primulas are coming into flower at my favourite time of the year. My first specialisation as an amateur gardener was alpines, but after visits to Ness Botanical Gardens, Fletcher Moss University Gardens and Harlow Carr I graduated to the larger end of the alpine spectrum. I first started to grow primulas rapidly joined by meconopsis and, luckily, I have a small area in the current garden where they will grow and I can still enjoy them.

This seedling appears to be true to its adjacent parent Geranium var. pratense. f. albiflorum. ‘Galactic’. It is so nice to have a white one pop-up as most self seedlings are usually from the blue plants.

A couple of aquilegias to finish off. A.fragrans is from seed and seems to be wilting a bit unfortunately. It looks as if my policy of removing the seed heads from all standard deep blue A.vulgaris and leaving anything that was more interesting has paid off as I think that’s a rather nice seedling.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

More Odds and Sods

Some more photos of plants I missed earlier from the old garden and some from the new.

Oenothera

Introduced from America, the evening primrose grows wild in the UK but is a useful although unreliable addition to the garden. Basically a biennial it has a habit of self seeding into the garden and popping up in unexpected places. The clump in the picture actually appeared several years earlier, died off after flowering and didn’t return immediately. The evening primrose gets its name from the fact the flowers open at dusk and can actually be observed doing so, it was once very popular in gardens but not so much now.

Rosa glauca is one of the few roses I have actually grown, it has small rather insignificant single flowers followed by worthwhile hips. The grey foliage is really its outstanding feature arching up to around 6′ which also makes it an ideal plant for a mixed hedge. Apparently it has become a proscribed species now, “irresponsible” planting subject to a fine.

Not really a common garden plant, although it has many cultivars, Saxifraga fortunei is tolerant of even deep shade. It has attractive leaves and the distinction of being late flowering so can light up a dark corner of the garden until the frosts take it down. I think most of its cultivars originate from Japan, some of which plus the specie plant have been awarded the RHS AGM.

This was a major mistake and why you should always research a plant that you are unfamiliar with! My sister gave me a small plant of this, “T Rex” as she called it as she couldn’t remember the name, from her holiday home in Shropshire, I should have been alerted when she told me it had lots of babies! I had it confined in a larger pot for a year before moving it with me to the new garden. Once planted out in the front garden it drew attention as it grew to around 5′ displaying its striking tropical looking leaves until it was devastated by a sever frost which killed off the main stems completely. Then the trouble started, a crop of new shoots appeared around the original site but also new shoots started to appear at as much as 15′ away from the parent which in the end took me two seasons to eradicate as the monster nearly took over my tiny front garden, its thick fleshy roots getting everywhere. If you have plenty of space and want a tropical look, ideal.

Violas

I have only photographed pansies in views of bedding or baskets but here are a few violas I have grown. It is impossible to cover the subject here, as it is so far wide ranging, including some delightfully scented specimens. Basically easy to grow, versatile and rightfully popular.

Six on Saturday 03/05/2025

The unseasonal weather continues although it is beginning to cool down now with the possibility of frost on Monday night. Still no rain so regular watering of containers continues. We have had a very bad moorland fire the smoke from which was visible from where I live. It almost engulfed the site of the famous Cat and Fiddle, which is now a distillery, and we had the unusual sight of a helicopter water bombing the fire. The garden is coming on very quickly and, although there is not a great deal of flower to be seen, I have managed to scrape together a six.

The first of my geraniums to flower. I would like to apologise in advance as I think I will be relying on them rather a lot this year to fill the Six on Saturday slot.

British native, Sweet woodruff, has proved useful for ground cover, along with Euphorbia characias, in a rather difficult corner. I’ll have to be careful as they are both invasive, but I think the hostile conditions should limit their ambition. I always think woodruff looks very tatty going into winter, it’s a pity it isn’t evergreen.

My first time with this rather neat, buttercup-like, little creeping plant from the eastern United States. It appears to be, at the very least, semi-evergreen, as it has kept the majority of its leaves over the, albeit mild, winter.

Spanish or English? Is it a hybrid? This clump of bluebells has a very faint scent and the stems are “nodding” rather than upright, typical of the English bluebell. The flowers are light coloured more like the Spanish species. I also have a clump of more robust plants which are not yet in flower, as soon as they are I am going to try a direct comparison. Until then I rather think these are Spanish, Hyacinthoides hispanica or are they a hybrid…………..?

I think Clematis montana ‘Morning Yellow’ is a rather neat cultivar, it is definitely more cream than yellow, fading to white as they age. It doesn’t appear to be as rampant and flower as prolifically as montana, but nevertheless gives a good show. Both have that nice delicate vanilla scent.

A rather nice self-seeded common aquilegia that has appeared in a crack in the paving. I had too many aquilegias appearing in the garden so I ripped out a fair number as they came into flower, leaving only those of interest. This one must have escaped my notice!

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Hardy Perennials (Part 3) Updated

Dicentra

Now Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Bleeding Heart has become a popular addition to the cottage garden, its unusual flowers born on arching stems over fern-like foliage make an attractive show in early spring. Although it is one of the first border perennials to show it is worth noting that it is one of the first to die back in early autumn, so tends to look better in an informal setting. Thrives in any good moist soil in sun or partial shade but it does not respond well to being moved. There is a yellow leaved form available.

An unusual member of the Dicentra genus is the climbing D.scandens, a half-hardy climber I grew from seed. Unfortunately the botanists have really done a number on the Dicentra genus which is now split into four different genera. D.scandens is now Dactylicapnos scandens! Why are the new names nearly always more difficult to remember and pronounce than the old ones?

Dierama

Dierama pulcherrimum, Angel’s Fishing Rods are beautiful, evergreen perennials for an informal setting. They have arching flower stems covered in funnel shaped flowers in a range of shades of pink/purple and white over grass-like foliage. They prefer a sunny sheltered spot in moist soil and are another plant that does not like being moved although they actually grow from corms. Personally I have struggled to grow them and have only managed a few flowers at best, probably because my garden was too cold and damp. A member of the Iris family from South Africa there are many species and cultivars in cultivation including the well established Slieve Donard hybrids bred in N.Ireland.

Digitalis

Digitalis or Foxglove is a genus of both biennial and short lived perennial plants. The native Digitalis purpurea is common everywhere and well known, however some of the species and hybrids are less seen. Broadly speaking, being woodlanders, they all prefer a moist soil in dappled shade although D.purpurea seeds itself almost anywhere and I have had an excellent plant growing from a shady rock crevice in the past. Pam’s Choice is a naturally occurring garden hybrid found by a keen amateur gardener.

Draba

Drabas are alpine members of the brassica family and originate from Central Europe and even the UK, they are cushion or mat forming plants, the most common garden specie being Draba aizoides. As with most alpines they like a gritty open soil in a sunny position. The plant pictured above was grown from a “lucky dip” collection of society seed out of curiosity.

Epimediums

Find my post dedicated to Epimediums here.

Epipactis hardy orchid

I have included this for its novelty value, possibly Epipactis helleborine, I am no expert when it comes to orchids, just seeded itself into my ‘woodland’ garden, flowered and disappeared.

Eryngium

Eryngium giganteum or the Giant Sea Holly is colloquially associated with Miss Willmott of Warley Place, who by all accounts was a formidable lady, because of a story in which she was said to scatter the seed of the eryngium in any garden that she visited that she considered to be dull. Unfortunately the story has been debunked in recent years. Eryngiums are basically thistles and require a sunny spot in well drained but moist light soil to grow well. There are several cultivars available ranging from silvery white to steely dark blue.

Eupatorium

Common name Joe Pye Weed, this is a fantastic plant for adding height and late colour to the border, growing to over 6′ its purple flower heads remain until the first frosts. This is one plant that I have introduced to my new garden, late to surface, its flowers have been covered in butterflies and other insects since the end of June and it is still going strong.

Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’ is a different plant altogether smaller in stature with dark green/red leaves and contrasting fluffy white flower heads it is rather striking. Now reclassified as Ageratina altissima which just doesn’t have the same ring to it somehow.

Euphorbia

Euphorbia or Spurges are a massive and diverse genus ranging from annual weeds to trees, with shrubs and even succulents in between. The plant above is a typical garden cultivar the many species and cultivars have a range of colours including acid green and even orange. A well known member of the genus is the popular Christmas plant the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). The plant that is getting all my attention at the moment is the annual garden weed Euphorbia peplus, it only appeared a couple of years ago and is proving to be a nightmare! All of them, that we are likely to come in contact with, have a toxic sap which can cause painful blisters on someone who is sensitive.

Six on Saturday 26/04/2025

We have had very little rain here in High Peak having avoided the downpours which have affected other areas and I am now having to water all my containers and pots on a regular basis. The forecast is currently showing an overcast day today (Saturday) but then temperatures are set to go into the twenties throughout next week. I am still very wary of a late frost even though it seems unlikely at the moment. I won’t be happy until we get to the last week of May.

I love this time of the year, the acers are now fully out and everywhere you look trees are bursting into life and the landscape is greening up. A gardener’s week is never done it seems, with the stronger sun and possibility of a late frost the acers stand to be scorched by either one whilst the leaves are so tender.

Specie tulip, Tulipa clusiana var chrysantha on a sunny day and not.

I no longer have cold glass so have to resort to outdoor sowing, of mainly hardy perennials, outside in a sheltered spot. These were sown in early February, as I would do normally under cover, using fresh society seed. Despite this two lots have been pricked out three weeks ago and are almost ready to go into the open ground. I get great pleasure in raising plants from seed and to be honest I don’t know where I am going to put them all. I do sow a good number of seeds, even though I may only keep a few plants of each, because in some cases poor germination is a factor. I am a great believer in raising them hard to get good strong plants.

I am making a bit of an assumption here that this is actually characias but it is filling up an awkward damp corner very nicely so I won’t complain.

These were planted very late and consequently we have February Gold flowering at the end of April. I find I can get away with planting tulips late, but narcissi, not so much.

How did that get there? This montana has appeared around the central heating exhaust after travelling under the tiles from the gutter level. It will be short-lived as I will be taking it down to almost ground level after it flowers in order to paint the woodwork behind it.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Six on Saturday 12/04/2025

The warmer weather continues but, much as I am enjoying it, I feel it has come far too early and would be welcome in about a month’s time as I have a feeling of trepidation about what is round the corner. Many plants are thrusting up new tender growth and I have already noticed some damage caused by the light overnight frosts and possibly the cold winds. We can’t put out bedding with confidence until the end of the third week in May. The local NT gardens don’t start planting until the second week of June, mind you, they have thousands of plants at risk. On the 2nd June 1975 snow stopped play in Buxton, only a few miles from me, between Derbyshire and Lancashire cricket clubs. Play was resumed the following day in beautiful sunshine and the following year, 1976, was one of the hottest summers on record. Buxton Cricket Club are celebrating the 25th anniversary with a special event this year. We gardeners are very much at the mercy of the weather, but spare a thought for the poor farmers and growers who have to make a living.

This is one of my favourite small shrubs, I look forward every year to the emergence of the colourful foliage. I had one in my last garden which was quite a bit larger, it could be that the drier, less fertile soil this one is in is limiting its growth, but I think it’s a little gem nevertheless.

One of the remaining two flowers this year from a clump I planted about four years ago. I never seem to get longevity from my bulbs, tulips I can understand, as they need a good baking during the summer, but daffodils I tend to plant and forget about so probably my fault.

I used to grow numerous meconopsis as they are one of my favourite genera. This year is the first in my new garden that I am hoping to get some decent flowers. Crarae can only be raised vegetatively and I have never grown it before so fingers crossed! Crarae was raised at Crarae Gardens, Argyle, Scotland. If you are interested in meconopsis you might like to visit my page.

This berberis is another welcome splash of spring colour, it loses its reddish tinge as the year progresses. Like most berberis, it thrives here taking anything that the weather can throw at it.

**Arabis alpina ssp. caucasica ‘Snowcap’**

I grew the common or garden Rock Cress, or at least an improved form of it, from seed. It makes a useful early splash of white every year.

Currently growing in a pot until I find somewhere to put it, I bought this pulmonaria as a bare-root plant which is why it is flowering slightly later than normal. I have taken a real liking to pulmonarias over the last few years, as there are so many cultivars now, and can’t wait to increase my collection.

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Six on Saturday 29/03/2025

We have had a warm, mainly dry, spell with temperatures quite high for this time of the year so far, but have been dogged by a persistent cold wind which we get here. The garden is wakening up and the magnolias and early blossoms are in evidence not far from here but I am still vary wary of any late frosts which may occur.

I haven’t any A. nemorosa now unfortunately but I am always pleased to see these lovely spring flowers emerge.

The Bleeding Heart is one of the earliest herbaceous perennials to flower, and is always welcome. I think the emerging flower stems have a rather surreal quality about them. Dicentra was a lot easier to remember!

All lysimachias tend to be garden thugs, but I have never been able to resist the little yellow flowers contrasted against the deep purple of the leaves of ‘Fire Cracker’

The beautiful clusters of flowers of osmanthus have been out for the last week or so which means I have managed to enjoy their wonderful scent in the warm weather we have been having. All too often the whole of the flowering season is under grey skies. Apologies for the out of focus bit!

The buds on this acer are just opening, fingers crossed there is no severe frost now. The winter damaged tip has been taken off.

First of the tall primulas to emerge for me. Primula denticulata used to be a common site a few years ago, but not so much now. Shame really I find the powder blue flowers and farinose leaves and flower stems quite attractive and very welcome at this time of the year..

This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.

Primulas (Updated)

Primula, along with meconopsis, is my favourite genus, the slightly acidic damp soil and the areas of dappled shade present in my previous garden provided an ideal micro-climate for both. These conditions made it possible to grow the mainly Asiatic types along with some European and American species, it did mean however, that the lime loving, mainly European species, were excluded.

The family Primulacae includes cyclamen, androsace and soldanella to name a few. The genus Primula is very large and diverse and because of this was split into 20 sections at the beginning of the twentieth century since when it has been updated into seven sections which are probably more botanically correct, however I will stick to the old classifications as I find them easier to comprehend. I have only included sections where I have grown plants and can provide pictures unless stated.

Section 1 Cortusoides

These attractive plants have soft velvety leaves which die back to rhizomes in winter, in drier conditions they will tend to go dormant very quickly after flowering which impedes growth. To ensure strong healthy plants a damp spot preferably in light shade is much preferred.

Section 5 Obconica

Once a very popular house plant found everywhere, Primula obconica has now waned in popularity and is rarely seen. Some people had a skin reaction when the plant was handled but I very much doubt this was the only reason for its demise, more probably the advent of orchids being everyone’s favourite was to blame. The picture is not mine and is of a T&M selection.

Section 9 Vernales

The Vernales Section is a large European group containing primroses and polyanthus both of which are very familiar as bedding, in containers and even as house plants. I could only find a couple of pictures of primroses as, to be honest, I have never been a great fan as I have always felt that many primulas, particularly polyanthus, tend to be artificial looking and have consequently been neglected when taking ‘photos. They tend to prefer slightly acid moist soils and can generally be propagated by division or from seed. It is worth noting that most of the primulas that are pictured on this site have been raised from seed.

Section 12 Petiolares

The Petiolaris Section contains around sixty species which are themselves split into several subspecies, however for the sake of sanity, I will not go down this avenue. The whole section is notoriously difficult to grow although there are quite a few species in cultivation. Primula gracilipes minor now named P.’Linnet’ is one of the easiest. Primula tanneri is another that I have grown in a poly tunnel and in the garden. They all like cool conditions in a moist gritty soil. Primula ‘Linnet’ is very close in appearance to P. petiolaris itself which is rarely seen. The plants shown were grown from seed which is the best way, although very careful division is an alternative.

Section 19 Farinosae

The largest section of the genus, also the most diverse, ranging through Asia, Europe and the Americas including our very own Primula scotica. As the name suggests the prominent characteristic is that they all are covered in farina to varying degrees. Although requiring much the same conditions as all the other primulas that I have grown, I raise many of them under cover as they tend to be small in stature and are best established before planting out. All the primulas shown above are easily raised from seed.

Section 20 Denticulata

Primula denticulata is a plant with which nearly every gardener is familiar, commonly known as the ‘drumstick primula’ it has been an early spring flowering feature in many gardens for years. Easy to grow, you can even propagate it from its fleshy roots. The pictured specimen is not very strong having self-seeded itself into a gap with stone either side but it is the only picture I have unfortunately. There is also a rather nice white form, which I now have, with red and purple pink also being available.

Section 21 Capitatae

**Primula capitata ‘Noverna Deep Blue’**

Primula capitata is a neat little plant from the Himalayas, very definitely a peat lover it tends not to be long-lived.

Section 22 Muscarioides

The best known plant in this section is Primula vialii which is even available as seed and plugs from some of the main online garden companies. The name of the section relates to the flower shape being that of muscari or grape hyacinth. For some reason I have never grown P.vialii, perhaps because it just doesn’t appeal to me. Basically, members of the section need the same treatment as most of the primulas I have described, its smaller relatives are probably safer in a peat bed or alpine house. The primulas in this group that I have grown were all raised and grown in a poly-tunnel as they were a bit too delicate for the main garden. Truth be told the only plant I managed to raise from seed of P. cernua perished before it flowered.

Section 23 Soldanelloides

Primula flaccida, formerly P.nutans, from Yunnan is the only success I have had with members of this section, three plants came from seed but only one survived to flowering and then died. Very difficult group to grow but contains some of the most beautiful plants which are often scented. The star turn is Primula reidii which is not only probably the most beautiful, but has a particularly strong scent as a bonus. Definitely subjects for careful cultivation in the alpine house.

Section 25 Nivales

Primula chionantha, is the best known of the Nivalids. They are Asiatics which generally are to be found growing on damp meadows and prefer the damper peaty conditions to be found in the north of England and Scotland. The two pictured above, which are both robust species with large strap-shaped leaves, were raised in the poly-tunnel and then planted outside where they were perfectly happy. I have grown P. chionantha but unfortunately I can’t find a picture.

Section 27 Sikkimensis

Easy to grow section but needs peaty conditions and plenty of water to thrive. Many people will be more familiar with P.florindae, known as the Giant Cowslip, rather than the eponymous Primula sikkimensis, it comes in other colours ranging from red through orange. Generally easy from seed and division of vigorous clumps.

Section 28 Candelabra

Hailing from the Himalayas these easy to grow plants with their tiered flowers are what started my interest in all plants from the alpine regions particularly the Asiatics, I was also lucky in that living in North West provided almost ideal conditions for my favourites. I first saw these in any quantity at Fletcher Moss Gardens, Didsbury but large plantings can be seen at Ness Gardens and Harlow Car Gardens. Although they will grow in any good peaty soil they need water to really thrive and make an excellent pond-side planting especially in numbers.

Section 30 Floribunda

Primula x Kewensis is a remarkable hybrid bred at Kew, as its name suggests, which comes true from seed. It was bred from P verticillata and P floribunda and is not fully hardy as I found out to my cost when I first raised it. If kept under glass it will flower in very early spring.

That completes my review of the genus Primula where I have included all the sections that I have successfully grown. When it comes to my failures with some of the more challenging plants, I can only say a poly-tunnel is really not adequate when compared with a dedicated alpine house however the pleasure and satisfaction I gained from actually raising some of these subjects from seed was very much worth the effort.

In many descriptions I have mentioned peat as being an essential component to the growth of these plants, many of which grow best in a peat bed. In a future post I hope to show the totally illogical approach the government is taking by banning the sale of peat for horticultural use.

Peat for horticultural use is extracted from 4,500 hectares of peatland which is 0.15% of the 3,000,000 hectares in the UK. Why are they banning the sale of peat?