Primula: planting, growing and care in the open field. Perennial garden primrose: growing, planting, care How long does perennial garden primrose bloom

Together with us, the first flowers meet spring. For the most part, these are representatives of the bulbous. They are tender, fragile and a little cold, like the first spring months. Therefore, against the background of these flowers, the perennial primrose stands out, from which it breathes with the warmth of the sun and the promise of a long-awaited summer.

Primrose or primrose (Primula) of the Primrose family are rhizomatous herbaceous low perennial plants that bloom mainly in spring, although there are some summer-flowering species. Whole wrinkled leaves have a slight edge, they form a basal rosette. Flowering stems do not have leaves. Flowers come in a surprisingly varied color, there are two and even three-colored. They are located on peduncles singly or form various inflorescences. After flowering, a fruit box is formed with small dark brown seeds. All species reproduce well by seed, and many by dividing the bush. You can learn more about caring for primroses.

This flower is distributed throughout the world, therefore, accordingly, it has a lot of species, more than four hundred. In almost every country, it is covered with legends and myths, it is considered medicinal and mystical. For early flowering, primroses are called spring primroses, for wavy pubescent leaves - “rams”, and also “keys”, since the inflorescence resembles a bunch of small keys.

In the spring, having missed warmth and flowers, we meet bulbous primroses with special tenderness and joy. The largest of…

Primrose classifications

Although primroses are well studied and described by botanists, their huge variety makes classification quite difficult.

A unified universal classification has not yet been created. Officially, the primrose genus is divided into 7 subgenera: Sphondylia, Auriculastrum, Primula, Auganthus, Carolinella, Aleuritia, Craibia.

These plants differ from each other in shape, size, color of flowers and leaves, type of inflorescences, flowering time, that is, morphological features. On this basis, 23 (sometimes 30 or 38) sections or groups were identified.

The English Royal Horticultural Society has compiled its own, easier-to-use classification, which divides primroses into 3 large groups.

Florists for practical use divided into groups according to the shape of the inflorescences and their location.

Let us briefly consider these variants of classifications.

Classification according to morphological features

As we have already indicated above, the classification of primroses according to external features distinguishes 23-38 sections. Consider only those species that can be grown on the territory of our country (approximately in the middle lane).

1. Mealy primroses

Mealy primroses (Primula Fariaosa, Aleuritia). A characteristic feature of this group is the presence of white or yellow plaque on the plants. Small flowers form umbrella inflorescences. These are moisture-loving plants that require little shelter for the winter, are short-lived. This section includes more than 80 species.

Primula mealy
Primula Gallera

We will name just a few of them. This is a native of the Balkans thick-leaved primrose (Рrimula frondosa), originally from the Alpine and Carpathian mountains, Haller's primrose (Рrimula halleri), mealy primrose (Primula fariaosa) grows in the Far East, the north of the European part of Russia, the north of Mongolia and in the mountains of Western Europe.

2. Primrose OREOPHLOMIS

Primrose pink

Primroses OREOPHLOMIS (Primula Oreophlomis) - this section includes low early flowering species. Distinctive features of this group are smooth leaves with a serrated edge and bright pink flowers with a small yellow eye.

The pink primrose (Primula rosea) most clearly represents the group. A lover of wet soils from the Himalayas. Young leaves with teeth on the edge have a bronze tint, but gradually become light green. Peduncles are short and at first it seems that the flowers lie on the leaves, but gradually grow up to 15 cm. Small (about 1 cm) pink flowers bloom in May.

On sale you can find a variety of Rosea Grandiflora with large flowers.

3. Primrose auricles

Auricula primroses, or auriculastrum (Primula Auricula, Auriculastrum) - this section includes 21 species native to Europe. These are low-growing plants with dense leaves, stems and flowers are covered with a white powdery coating. The color of the buds can be lilac, yellow, pink or purple, sometimes with a white eye.

Let's take a look at several types.

Auricula or ear primrose (Rrimula auricula) - grows in the mountain meadows of southern Europe. The leaves are dense, dark green, with barely visible teeth along the edge, can reach 20 cm. Traditionally, the flowers are yellow (up to 3 cm), but hybrids amaze with a variety of colors and their combination, there are multi-flowered varieties, as well as with contrasting eyes. All this flower splendor is collected in an umbrella at the top of the stem (10-25 cm). Flowering is long April-June. It may have several flower stalks. Leaves and flowers are abundantly "powdered".

Primula ear terry Crimson Glow
Primrose ear terry Susannah
Primula ear terry Jupp

This species has many varieties. In addition to the chic flower, the orange-yellow variety Jupp has a delicate aroma. Reminiscent of small roses primrose ear terry. Very beautiful with dense double dark cherry flowers Crimson Glow, pale pink with a light yellow base Susannah. An unusual Max variety, its flowers are black in the shade, becoming cherry in the sun.

Primrose pubescent Rubin

Primrose pubescent (Rrimula pubescens) is a section of large-flowered hybrids, in the selection of which primroses were eared, hairy (P. Villosa), sticky (P. Viscosa), hard-haired (P. Hirsuta). This group is divided into three subgroups: Belgian, English and terry auricles. They differ in the color of the eye and the presence of plaque.

Velvet ruby-cherry flower with a large yellow center in the Rubin variety, white-cream with a yellow eye in the White variety, light purple also with a yellow eye in the Violeta variety.

This section also includes small primrose (Рrimula minima), Delekluza (Рrimula clusiana), hairy (Рrimula villosa), carniolian (Рrimula carniolica), rough-haired (Рrimula hirsuta), fringed (Рrimula marginata).

primrose hairy
Primula delecluse
Primula carniolia

4. Cortusiform primroses

Primrose cortusoides (Primula Corthusoides) - unite the inhabitants of Europe, Siberia, Japan, Korea, China. These species do not have a powdery coating, they have funnel-shaped flowers and petiolate leaves. This section includes the following types.

Primula cortusoides (Primula сorthusoides) is our West Siberian beauty. The leaves are oval-oblong with teeth along the edge, covered with long hairs, located on long petioles. Peduncle (from 10 to 40 cm) is also pubescent. At its top, the flowers are collected in a multi-flowered umbrella. Pinkish-purple petals have a deep groove in the middle. Blooms in late May and blooms until the end of June.

Primula Siebold (Рrimula sieboldii) is a native of Japan. It is distinguished by very decorative leaves, which, due to the special shape of the teeth along the edge, seem to be wavy. Multi-flowered umbrellas of various colors are located on peduncles 15-20 cm long. It blooms for a long time (almost 2 months) starting from the end of April. Thanks to well-branched rhizomes, it grows quickly.

Primula Siebold Aoyagizome
Primula Siebold Shibori Gasane

Of the original varieties, I would like to note the Aoyagizome variety, white with rare light green spots, the Shibori Gasane variety, white with frequent pink strokes. Flowers of the Trade Winds variety series look like carved snowflakes.

This group also includes - rock primrose (Рrimula saxatilis), rejected (Рrimula patens), multi-nervous (Рrimula polyneura).

5. Dental primroses

Toothed primroses (Primula Denticulaia) - this section includes two species.

Primrose Capitate Salvana

Primrose capitate (Рrimula capitata) - this species is common in Tibet and India. The leaves are oblong with a blunt top, wrinkled, collected in a basal rosette. On a peduncle (15-30 cm), a capitate inflorescence is formed from small velvety purple flowers. The whole plant is "powdered" with a white coating. Blooms almost all summer. In our area it is used mainly as an annual plant.

It has decorative varieties such as Noverna Deep Blue, Salvana.

Primula finely toothed

Primula finely toothed (Rrimula denticulata) - differs from other species in pretty inflorescences-balls, consisting of small flowers of traditional lilac scale. Peduncles grow constantly: at first they are only 2-3 cm, but gradually, by the middle of flowering they already reach 20 cm, and at the end of the season even 30 cm. The whole plant is “powdered” with a yellowish bloom. Primula dentate begins flowering in April, it lasts more than a month. Gives self-seeding and winters well.

Primula finely toothed is represented by various decorative varieties. Dense balls of small flowers with tiny yellow eyes are deep pink in Deep Rose, lilac blue in Cashmeriana, deep crimson in Rubra. Primula "Alba" will delight with white small clouds.

Has a primrose fine-toothed variety series. For example, Corolla, "Pon-pon" consist of different colors (white, purple, red).

6. Yulia primroses

Primrose Julia (Julia) - this section includes actually one species. Often this group also includes primrose prugonitskaya.

Primula Julia (Rrimula juliae) comes from Eastern Transcaucasia. This is a miniature plant (10 cm). The leaves are oval, with rounded teeth along the edge, located on long petioles. Lilac-purple flowers (up to 3 cm) are located one at a time at the top of the peduncle. They have a rather long flower tube (2 cm) and a deep groove in the middle of the petal. Blooms early in April and blooms for more than a month.

Primula Julia Sneeuwwitje
Primula Julia Riga-6

There are many varieties and hybrids of this species. A popular Sneeuwwitje variety with snow-white petals and a lemon eye. The pleasant lilac-blue color contrasts well with the yellow eye of the Blue Julianas hybrid. An old but very attractive Riga-6 variety, the warmth of spring is reflected in its rich pink petals and yellow-orange center.

Prugonitskaya primrose (Рrimula pruhoniciana) are hybrids of Yulia primrose (Рrimula juliae) and other species. For example, raspberry-purple with a bright yellow eye Wanda.

7. Primrose muscarioides

Primrose muscarioides is a section of plants native to Tibet and the Himalayas. Most often grown as biennials. Their distinctive feature is long pointed inflorescences, uncharacteristic for primroses.

Primula vial or orchid primrose (Rrimula vialii) - this species is quite difficult to take root in our climate, but it is worth it to make a little effort. The leaves are long lanceolate (up to 30 cm), with teeth along the edge and a very weak edge. The peduncle is covered with powdery coating, grows up to 20 cm (in our area up to 15 cm). The inflorescence, somewhat reminiscent of a small corncob, consists of many rich red buds, which, gradually blooming (from bottom to top), turn into pale lilac flowers with a pleasant light smell. Flowering continues from June to July.

This group also includes primrose muscariform (Рrimula muscarioides). This summer-flowering species is very rare in our country.

8. Primrose

Primula (Primula) - this section with a common name includes species of European and Asia Minor origin, which completely lack powdery coating. Plants of this group are very common in decorative floriculture.

Primula high - plants come from central Europe and the Carpathian mountains. Oval-oblong leaves look wrinkled due to depressed veins. Leaf plate (from 5 to 20 cm) with a serrated edge and sparse hairs. Peduncle slightly pubescent (10-35 cm). Small yellow flowers with a dark center form a slightly drooping umbrella inflorescence. Flowering lasts about two months starting in mid-April. Hybrids have larger flowers and incredibly varied colors.

Primula high Piano Rose Bicolor
Primula high Victoriana Gold Lace Black

Now this species has many varieties. For example, "Piano" includes Piano Red, Blue, White, Yellow, Orange, Fire, and even the most beautiful Piano Rose Bicolor. Thanks to the high peduncles, the primrose "Erfurt Giants" ("Big Ben") is suitable even for cutting.

Of the hybrids, I would like to note the so-called "lace" varieties - "Queen's Lace", Silver Lace Black, Victoriana Gold Lace Black. The rather dark petals of these varieties are framed by a thin whitish border, so the inflorescences seem openwork.

Polyanthic primrose, or multi-flowered primrose (Рrimula poliantha) - this species is very similar to the high primrose (Рrimula elatior), only its flowers are much larger (about 5-6 cm), flowering occurs later (end of May-June), there is a pleasant aroma. This species is much more tender and can freeze in winter, so a large number of such hybrids are grown as pot crops.

Primrose polyanthus "Francesca"

The Blue Jeans variety is very popular, its white petals are densely filled with blue veins. The Faye variety stands out for its striking combination of shades, while the SuperNova variety stands out for its very early flowering. One of the most original hybrid varieties is "Francesca", the owner of corrugated lemon-green flowers with a yellow eye.

Spring primrose (Rrimula veris) is an exclusively European species, which in the old days was called forest or medicinal primrose, it is still used for medicinal purposes. The leaves are oval, wrinkled (with depressed veins), uneven teeth along the edge make them slightly wavy. The underside of the leaf may be slightly hairy. A bright yellow flower with an orange center has a long calyx. Flowers at the top of a slightly hairy peduncle form a one-sided umbrella. Blooms from April to June. Numerous varieties have a wide variety of colors, and can be terry. Spring primrose is a very unpretentious species, however, it needs pollination by insects.

spring primrose
spring primrose

For example, golden sun splashes are reminiscent of the yellow flowers of Cabrillo Yellow, and the Spring Palette mix will delight you with joyful colors.

Primula ordinary or stemless (Рrimula vulgaris / acaulis) - grows in the south of our country and Europe. The leaves are oval, elongated (5-25 cm), wrinkled. At the top of low peduncles (6-20 cm) are single flowers, most often yellow, sometimes white with a purple center. Petals resemble a heart, divided into two halves. Flowering in this species is active, so the plants look very attractive. Primula acaulis has many hybrids that have amazing colors but are less weather resistant.

Primrose stemless Blue Zebra

Primrose stemless "Potsdam Giants" stands out among others with large flowers on a very small bush (15 cm). And the terry primrose "Primlet" looks like bunches of cute little roses of stunningly beautiful colors. The flowers of the Rosanna terry series are a bit reminiscent of azalea. A very original color in the Blue Zebra variety is a bright contrast of a golden yellow eye with striped blue-white petals.

Primula akaulis is very often used for growing at home.

This section also includes large-calyx primrose (Primula macrocalyx), lovely (Rrimula amoena), Pallas (Rrimula pallasii), Voronov (Rrimula woronowii), Komarov (Rrimula komarovii), Ruprecht (Primula ruprechtii), Abkhazian (Rrimula abchasica), Sibtorp ( Primula Sibthorpii).

Primula lovely
Primrose large-calyx

Primula Sibthorpa
Primula Komarova

9. Candelabra primroses

Candelabra primroses (Proliferae, Candelabra) - this section contains residents of Japan, China, India and other countries of this region. These plants are very beautiful, they are summer flowering. They grow well in our climate, but require careful shelter for the winter. Most often they are used as biennials, but if you create comfortable conditions for them, you can also grow them as perennials. Often give a good self-seeding.

Primula Bissa
Primula Bullea

Primula bulleyana (Primula bulleyana) is a native of China, its peduncle reaches 50 cm, and the leaf plate is 40 cm. The leaves are elongated, serrated along the edge. Orange-yellow small flowers are located on a high peduncle in several tiers (from 5 to 7).

Bissa's primrose (Primula beesiana) and powdered primrose (Primula pulverulenta) are very similar to it, only they are slightly larger with raspberry flowers, and the latter species has a powdery coating.

Japanese primrose (Primula japonica) - this beauty can be used for cutting. Her peduncle (30-50 cm) seems to be decorated with bright crimson bracelets. Flowering begins in May from the lower tiers and lasts about 2 months.

Japanese Primula Apple Blossom
Japanese primrose Miller's Crimson

Japanese primrose is also used in indoor floriculture as a pot culture.

The delicate apple blossom is reminiscent of the Apple Blossom variety, while Miller's Crimson has deep crimson flowers with a large cherry center.

Primula coekburna (Primula coekburniana) - also belongs to this group, but is very rarely grown in our area.

As you can see, this is a rather complicated classification and it is not always convenient for an amateur gardener to use it.

Classification of the English Royal Horticultural Society

This is a more simplified version of the classification.

Group-1. Ear-shaped primroses (auricula) and all sorts of their hybrids. This group is divided into 4 subgroups.

Primula ear

Border (bed) are the most hardy and resistant varieties of this group. Thanks to strong peduncles, they withstand bad weather well. The compact habit allows you to create low flowering borders from them, and a wide palette of colors makes them popular in the design of flower beds. May have a slight powdery coating.

Alpine auricles are also well suited for outdoor cultivation. All of them are brightly colored. The middle and the tube of the obligatory one color. Flowers with a white center tend to have petals in the violet-blue range, and if the center is golden yellow, the petals may be in the reddish-brown range. May have a light border. This subgroup does not have a powdery coating on the flowers.

Terry primrose is stunningly beautiful, but it requires more attention and care. However, it feels good in the flower beds with proper care.

Exhibition are hybrid, rather exacting and gentle grades. For the most part, the flowers are covered with a powdery coating, which makes them very original. However, bad weather (rain and wind) severely damages this plaque (farina), so in Europe these show varieties are grown under cover or at home. In addition, some of them cannot winter in the open field.

Group-2. Primrose-polyanthus primroses. This group includes 2 subgroups.

Polyanthic primroses. This includes all complex hybrids with the participation of multi-flowered and high primroses.

Primrose spring, ordinary, Julia, as well as all sorts of their varieties.

Group-3. Candelabra primroses. This group combines species with a tiered arrangement of inflorescences. These are Japanese, Bissa and Bullea, as well as all their varieties.

Primula vulgaris
Japanese primrose

This classification includes the most common types and varieties of primroses in decorative floriculture.

Classification according to the shape and arrangement of inflorescences

This is the simplest and most convenient classification for amateur gardeners, which allows you to choose varieties suitable for habit and shape for flower beds.

Cushion. This group includes species with single flowers on low peduncles, they only slightly rise above the “cushion” of leaves. The most popular in decorative floriculture from this group is the common primrose, small, Julia, Voronova.

Umbrella. In this group, inflorescences form a one-sided or rounded umbrella on peduncles up to 20 cm. Of the most popular types of primrose, high, polyanthus, auricular, spring, pink, rejected, and all their hybrids.

Spherical or capitate. Primrose spherical forms a dense capitate inflorescence, which looks like a decorative ball on a stem that grows during flowering. These include primrose finely toothed, capitate and their varieties.

Candelabra or tiered. The inflorescences of this group are arranged in tiers on a high strong peduncle, reminiscent of old candlesticks-candelabra. In our climate, Japanese primrose, Bullea, Byssa and powdered primrose are used.

florinda primrose
sikkimese primrose

Bellflowers. This group has a drooping inflorescence of bell-like yellow flowers at the top of a strong peduncle. The group is small, but planting of these plants is possible along the banks of water bodies and in poorly drained areas. These are the Sikkimese primrose (Рrimula sikkimensis) and the Florinda primrose (Рrimula florindae).

The garden has been known to people since the era of the most ancient civilizations. However, most often these were open gardens. Winter Garden -…

Indoor primroses

We examined the garden primrose and its classification. However, it should be noted that some species of this plant are grown as pot crops in our climate. Among them, the most common are Chinese primrose (Primula sinensis), Kyus primrose (Primula kewensis), malacoides primrose (Primula malacoides), reverse conical primrose (Primula obconica) and soft primrose (Primula malacoides).

Primrose reverse conical

For example, Chinese in open ground, blooms in May-June, and at home - from December to March.

Primula perennial is very diverse and beautiful. And the classifications we have considered will help you choose the variety that is right for your garden. An informative video will supplement the information.

Perennial primrose is one of the garden flowers of the harbingers of spring, soft green leaves and bright color of flowers will not leave anyone indifferent. Thanks to its qualities, it received many other names from gardeners - lamb, Easter flower. In order to enjoy flowering every year, you need to know how to properly plant and care for perennial primrose.

Description of perennial primrose

Primula (primrose) - translated from Latin as "primrose". The plant got its name because of the early flowering time: as soon as the snow melts, the first green leaves and buds appear. It received its international scientific name in 1762 and was entered in the register as "Primula vulgaris" by botanist W. Hudson.

Primula garden perennial, annual and biennial belongs to the genus Primrose.

The flowers are bright, funnel-shaped, 5-petalled, 1.5-5 cm in diameter. They are collected in small inflorescences of 3-7 pieces, on a leafless stem 5-20 cm high.

The leaves are lanceolate, oblong-oval, soft to the touch, reminiscent of velvet fabric. Teeth along the edges of the leaf. The leaf plate is wrinkled, pubescent below, the color is saturated - green. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, the leaf is from 5 cm to 20 cm long, 2 cm to 5 cm wide.

The fibrous root system grows shallowly into the soil by 10-20 cm.

The natural habitat for primrose flowers is mountainous areas and forest edges, wet places with light organic soil rich in organic matter.

There are three types of plants that differ in color depending on the place of growth.

1. Common primrose from Southern and Eastern Europe. The flowers are pale yellow to bright yellow in color.
2. Common primrose from the Balearic Islands (Spain). The flowers are on a long stem, the petals are white (J. Forrest classification).
3. Common primrose Sibthorpii. Flowers of various colors: from pink to red and purple.

In the wild, they are found in Ukraine (Carpathians), the European part of Russia and the Crimea, Central and Western Asia, North Africa, Western regions of Europe.

Varieties of perennial primrose

A complete classification of Primrose species has not yet been compiled, most botanists believe that there are more than 390 species. The most popular species for growing in perennial Primrose in summer cottages in Russia.

Mostly unpretentious varieties are planted in garden plots with a photo:

• "Virginia" - white petals with a yellow center.
  
  
• "Alba" - small white flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a ball.
  
  
• "Lady Green" - lemon-colored flowers with two large cloves on the petals.
  
  
• "Francesca" - wavy light green petals, the middle is bright yellow.
  
  
• "Sunset Shades" - bright flowers of red-yellow color.
  
  
• "Suzanne" is a terry variety with light pink petals and a yellow center.
  
  
• "Vanda" - blue-lilac flowers with a yellow center.
  
  

Garden primrose is annual, biennial and perennial, so before choosing seedlings and seeds, you need to find out from the seller what type the variety belongs to, in what conditions it can be grown, how to properly plant and care for it. Then buy and plant in your garden plot.

The species diversity of the Perennial Primrose is combined into 17 sections, which include 2-5 types of flowers each.

Planting a perennial primrose

Planting and caring for a perennial primrose has its own characteristics and nuances. It is demanding on the choice of location and soil. Many varieties are highly drought tolerant and frost tolerant, but it is best to grow in a site with little shade during the day, without drafts, or close to buildings so that moisture is constantly retained in the soil. Depending on the variety and species to which it belongs, Primula is planted on the southeast or north side of the site.

Landing dates

Seedlings are planted in early spring from April to the end of May. The main condition for planting is warm soil up to 15 ° C. If planting takes place with seeds, then they are sown in open ground from mid-August to September or from the end of February.

You can transplant a primrose or divide the rhizomes from 2-3 years of the plant's life. The procedure is carried out in early spring.

Ground Requirements

Garden perennial primrose loves moist, light, well-drained soil. It is difficult to tolerate and almost does not bloom on heavy, clay soils, especially if groundwater is close. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral, rich in organic fertilizers, light. Suitable land for Heather.

Before planting, the soil must be treated with manganese, disinfected from possible diseases. If the soil is poor, then it is diluted with compost, rotted manure, peat, sand, ash.

Planting primrose perennial seeds

Before planting seeds in open ground or at home, you need to stratify them in a hot or cold way. The cold method involves keeping the seeds in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, after which the temperature is gradually increased, transferred to heat. The hot method involves dousing the seeds with boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then the water is drained and slightly dried on a paper towel. Stratification allows the seeds to wake up and sprout faster.

In room conditions, the most favorable time for sowing your own perennial primrose seeds is mid-August. They are sown in a large box with fertilized soil under the film, seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks.

In a greenhouse or greenhouse, sowing is carried out in February or early March. Seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil and sprinkled with wet soil mixture by 1-1.5 cm.

In open ground, spring sowing of perennial primrose is carried out when the soil has warmed up to 7-10 ° C. At this temperature, the seeds wake up faster and germinate within 2-4 weeks. The disadvantage of such sowing is that the seeds lose their germination capacity up to 30% per year. The sown seeds germinate faster in autumn, after 1.5-2 weeks, but it is worth considering that the plant gets stronger, it needs 1-1.5 months for growth, which means that there should be no frosts during this period. Accordingly, depending on the region, autumn plantings can turn into summer ones. In the Northern regions, seeds are sown in August. In the South - September, early October.

Planting a garden primrose perennial cuttings

It is advisable to carry out cuttings when the root system of a perennial primrose is poorly developed. To do this, the plant is dug up and the strongest, most healthy axillary shoot is selected, carefully cut off along with the bud, part of the shoot and the leaf, which will need to be shortened by 1/3 or ½ of the leaf. A longitudinal incision is made on the petiole so that it takes root faster and gives new leaves.

Planted in light soil under a jar or film, keeping a stable temperature (22-25 ° C) until the first sheets appear. After the appearance of a new leaf, the plant begins to adapt, first opening the film for a few minutes up to several hours, and after 1-1.5 weeks leaving it completely open. It can be transplanted into open ground when 4-6 leaves appear.

Perennial primrose care

Compliance with the agricultural practices of growing and caring for perennial primrose in the garden will allow you to save and quickly propagate the plant.

Watering and feeding

Watering is carried out around the bush, avoiding falling on the flowers and leaves of primrose. The soil around the flower should be constantly moist, but not flooded, so watering is carried out 2-3 times a week with warm water in the evening or morning.

If the soil is depleted, then the plant should be fed 3-4 times per season, with complex fertilizers or organic matter. In spring and autumn (the first and last top dressing), it is better to use complex fertilizers that will contain nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, boron, and magnesium. During flowering, apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizer or rotted manure, litter, diluted in water.

pruning

Primula is a special plant that does not need pruning, except for faded flower stalks and damaged foliage. If you cut off healthy leaves from a garden primrose, then the rhizomes begin to die, the bush weakens and may not endure the winter cold. Leaves serve as a kind of shelter from bad weather and cold.

Preparing for winter

Most varieties are frost-resistant - up to -23 ° C or more, but varieties of hybrid breeding often require transplanting into containers and storing in a cool, dark place in winter. Simple varieties of perennial primrose are covered with fallen leaves from the garden, spruce branches or make air shelters-frames. The plant is covered after the first frosts in the southern regions, in the rest the shelter is made 1-2 weeks before them.

reproduction

Perennial primrose is propagated and planted in several ways, after which care does not differ from an adult plant.

1. Reproduction by seeds. When buying seeds, you need to pay attention to the year of collection, because, annually, the germination of seeds deteriorates by 20-30%.
2. Cuttings (rosettes). If in June - July, several outlets are separated and planted in open ground in partial shade, and shelter is made for the winter, then next year in spring they can be planted in a permanent place and looked after as an adult plant.
3. The division of rhizomes. You can divide the rhizomes in an adult, healthy plant (2-3 years old), if it has grown well. Pour warm water around the primrose bush, dig it in with a shovel and divide it so that each plot has rosettes and buds. Plant the Perennial Primrose in a prepared place and follow the rules of care.

Seeds, cuttings, plots should be taken only from a healthy plant, otherwise the new one will grow worse and get sick.

Diseases and pests

Perennial primrose, if the rules of planting and care are not followed, is susceptible to attack by pests and diseases:

• root rot;
• late blight;
• gray rot;
• rust;
• withering;
• spotting.

Most diseases are not treated, so the plant must be removed and burned so that it does not spread throughout the site. It is also often affected by various viruses and pests:

• aphids;
• nematodes;
• snails and slugs;
• weevils;
• bear.

If pests are found, they are sprayed with preparations: Aktara, Bi-58, Green soap, Spark.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for a perennial primrose implies careful observance of agricultural technology. Planting flower beds with a variety of types of flowers, you need to consider the compatibility of plants. Also, by combining different varieties of primrose, you can grow an unusual flower bed.

primroses- one of the most popular and favorite plants among our flower growers. In nature, these flowers can be found almost throughout the Eurasian continent in temperate latitudes, in humid highlands.

But, like all plants, primrose has the ability to adapt to other growing conditions, so for more than one century it has been successfully cultivated by gardeners around the world, including Russia.

Description of primrose

primrose primrose- one of the most diverse and common early flowering plants. In total there are up to 550 species. Most often it is a perennial, herbaceous or semi-shrub culture, but there are both annual and biennial primroses.

The underground part of the primrose is a rhizome with roots. The leaves are always collected in a small basal rosette, but they can take a variety of shapes - lanceolate, oblong-oval, oval.

Given the species diversity of primroses, the leaves may have an uneven surface, or a dense, leathery texture. Leaves can live either only one season, dying off after the first frost, or hibernate under snow cover and come to life for the new season.

primrose flowers have a tubular structure with bipartite or solid petals.

Primrose color have the most diverse, there are monophonic, two-color and tricolor plants. Breeders bred terry primroses. Often the flowers have a peephole. Peduncle without leaves, produces one or more flowers collected in spherical, umbellate or pyramidal inflorescences.

Primula gives fruits in the form of seed-pods. Seeds in boxes are small, dark brown, cylindrical or spherical in shape. The flowering period is spring. There are species that bloom in summer.

Useful properties of primrose

Even the ancient Greeks appreciated healing properties of primrose (primrose), and it's no wonder. The root system of this plant is part of the diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant spectrum of action, helping to start the processes of sputum secretion from the respiratory tract.

Decoctions of primrose roots are used in folk medicine for insomnia, decoctions of leaves are used for beriberi, neurosis, headaches, tinctures for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, skin rashes.

Agrotechnics for growing this crop is not so complicated. In this article, we want to tell you about how to grow primrose outdoors on and in the garden. We will not dwell on the description of this family of early flowering, you can read about the varieties and types of primroses in.

Growing primrose in open ground

Where is the best place to plant primroses

First of all, you should decide on primrose planting site. Regardless of the variety and place of their natural growth, in our natural conditions, professional flower growers for primroses recommend shaded areas of the garden under deciduous trees (or pears) or shrubs, flower beds and hillocks, which are not exposed to the afternoon rays of the sun, wet coastal zones of reservoirs.

Moisture and soil requirements for planting primrose

Moisturizing

The soil for primroses should be loose and moisture-intensive.. In other words, primroses should receive a large amount of moisture, but at the same time, the liquid should not stagnate and overmoisten the soil.

In the spring, in April-May, moisture should be the most intense, because in nature, during the melting of snow in the mountains, primroses literally drown in water. Often in our conditions there is little rain at this time, so make sure that the primroses do not dry out, otherwise the plants will weaken and lose their decorative qualities.

Helpful advice: Varieties such as Siebold's primrose are best grown with their root system immersed 1-2 cm in water.

The soil

Regardless of where your primrose's ancestors grew before, and mountain crevices with poor soils, or along mountain streams, or among alpine meadows with rich fertile soils, primroses should be provided with loose, well-manured soils in horticultural crops - light and clay. Such soil retains nutrients, is well saturated with moisture and drains it quickly enough.

If your site has heavy clay soil, this drawback is easily eliminated by adding 1 sq.m. landing area:

• sand buckets,
• crushed sphagnum moss
• vermiculite,
• 2 kg or rotted silage.

The easiest way to do this is to remove 20 cm of topsoil from the area and replace it with a suitable nutrient mixture. A year later, in the fall, it will be sufficient to apply only mineral potassium-phosphorus fertilizers to such soil.

Lack of light soils in low nutrient content. Such soils are enriched with:

• 5 kg of old humus,
• 10 kg of leaf (compost) earth,
• 5 kg of old peat,
• 20 g of phosphorus-potassium and 15 g of nitrogen fertilizers

per 1 sq.m of landing area.

Primrose Care

These plants do not need special care. The main thing is to provide the necessary amount of moisture and sufficient air flow to the primrose root system.. To maintain the right level of nutrient medium, do not forget to regularly get rid of weeds.

Top dressing primrose

During the growing season primrose should be fed three times a season potash-phosphorus fertilizer and regular organic fertilizer.

• The first application of mineral fertilizers is done in early spring.
• The second time - after 14-21 days.
• The third time is in July.

All this time, do not forget to pour primrose bushes with slurry (mullein, horse or sheep manure), and in the fall you should enrich the place where you grow primroses with a 3 cm layer of nutrient substrate to a depth of 15-20 cm.

To preserve moisture, ensure aeration of the root system and prevent abundant germination of weeds, primrose plantings are mulched with a gravel layer of 5 cm. In addition, it will serve as a wonderful decorative addition to the plantings of primroses.

Helpful advice: To prolong the flowering period of primroses, pick off dried flowers regularly.

Like all plants, primroses tend to grow. After 3-4 years, they can grow so much that they will be forced to crowd each other and bloom poorly. Therefore, in order to provide primroses with normal development conditions and the nutritional properties of the substrate, plant bushes should be divided and planted. It will be better if you not only plant overgrown bushes, but also transfer the entire flower garden with primroses to another place.

Perennial plantings of primroses need protective shelter for the winter. First of all, it is important to keep the primrose rosette until autumn - this is the natural protection of the plant from the winter cold.

Helpful advice: the rosette of such varieties of primroses as Japanese, Florinda and Fine-toothed do not retain all, leaving only 3-4 leaves, this significantly reduces the likelihood of primrose disease with rots of the root neck and leaves, and also allows the plant to form larger and brighter flowers by spring.

Mulching for the winter is easiest to do at the end of autumn with a 10 cm layer of tree foliage.

Diseases and pests of primroses

Most often primroses are subject to the following diseases:

• rust,
• ground rot,
• bacterial leaf spot,
• powdery mildew,
• anthracnose,
• jaundice,
• viruses and cucumber mosaic,

From pests often there is a lesion:

• nematodes,
• weevil,
• fleas,
• beetles, etc.

Primrose brings the biggest trouble fungus Ramularia cercosporella . This is evidenced by the appearance in the last days of spring, first pale, and then brown spots with a yellow border on the leaves of the plant.

When the sporulation of mushrooms begins, and this usually occurs in the second half of July, the spots become covered with a whitish coating. This leads to wilting and drying of the leaves, cessation of flowering, weakening of the plant.

To prevent such situations, regularly inspect primrose bushes. If affected leaves are found, remove and destroy them. Twice a year, immediately after flowering and in early spring treat planting primroses with the following compositions:

• 0.2% topsin, 2% fundazol, 1.5% cineb,

• 0.5% copper oxychloride, 1% Bordeaux liquid.

In autumn, primroses should be sprayed with 1% nitrafen.

Interesting to know. Primrose Julia, primrose Ordinary, Spring and High are most susceptible to this disease. More resistant to the defeat of Ramularia cercosporella, primrose Ear, primrose Pink, Pallas were revealed. Japanese primrose, Florinda and Finely toothed primrose do not get sick with this fungus.

Reproduction of primroses

These plants can be propagated vegetatively(dividing the bush, cuttings), and with the help seeds.

Growing primroses from seeds

Requirements for seeds and substrate

Primroses give a ripe seed box in the second half of summer. But when collecting seed material, one should take into account the fact that primrose seeds lose their germination very easily. So for sowing, take only freshly harvested planting material.

Primrose can be sown, in principle, at any time of the year, but in the Middle lane we recommend that you do this from the end of February. Try to find the most suitable day for this with the help. So you will achieve better germination of seedlings and their normal development.

If you are going to sow primroses in your summer cottage in open ground, then wait for the snow to melt and prepare boxes or containers for sowing by digging them into the ground. So you reduce the likelihood of losing seedlings. At the same time, you will have to constantly ensure that the soil in the containers does not dry out, is not washed off by showers and is not damaged by various pets.

You can plant primroses in a similar way in the summer immediately after the seed pods ripen, but then, in order to ensure normal seed germination during periods of summer drought, you will need more planting material. Some flower growers sow primroses at the end of autumn. But primrose gives the highest percentage of germination during seed propagation in the spring.

Seeding tanks

The most suitable for this are mini-greenhouses or containers, at the bottom of which drainage holes are provided, with plastic, transparent lids. But you can use for this purpose any suitable container that allows you to equip a mini-greenhouse for seeds. You can even take an ordinary plastic food container with drainage holes drilled in the bottom.

Substrate for sowing

For most varieties of primrose, it is best to take the substrate, consisting of:

• 1/4 sod land,
• 1/2 leaf humus,
• 1/4 sand.

You can use ready-made flower soil, which is sold in stores. Just add 20-50% vermiculite and perlite or sphagnum moss to it if these components are not part of the mixture.

Fill containers with prepared substrate. It is possible, in the case of small Auricula seeds, to make a thin top layer of perlite. In this case, the soil should be slightly moistened with a spray bottle.

Sowing primrose seeds

Sowing of these plants is carried out on the soil surface at the rate of 5 grains per 1 sq. cm of the sown area. This can be done with a napkin, on which the seeds are poured, or with a toothpick, after wetting its tip with water. Seeds should be lightly pressed into the ground.

What is cold start and why is it needed

In nature, many species of wild primroses grow at the base of glaciers. Therefore, in order to give friendly shoots, the seeds of such varieties of primroses as Pink, Florinda, Japanese, Siebold, High and Lowered need cold start. This means that immediately after sowing, the containers are placed in the freezer (down to -10 degrees) or sprinkled with snow for 3-4 weeks.

Primrose Siebold and High after cold start should be germinated in a dark room until sprouts appear. We do not recommend amateur flower growers to deal with such varieties of primroses, leave it to experienced breeders. But hybrid varieties do not need such a procedure.

Germination of seedlings

Before sprouts appear, direct sunlight does not pose any particular problems for greenhouses. But as soon as you notice the first shoots, be sure to take care of shading primroses and regular moistening of the soil using a spray gun or syringe without a needle. Just do not overdo it with watering, otherwise the seedlings will begin to rot very quickly!

You should also begin to gradually acclimatization of sprouts. This means that it is necessary to periodically ventilate the greenhouse, slowly increasing the ventilation time until the seedlings grow up and 2 fully formed leaves appear on them. Then it is already possible to remove the transparent protective cover or film from the containers. During the period of intensive growth of seedlings, the frequency of watering is increased.

Note. In order to sprout, primroses planted in autumn will need 14-18 weeks, and seeds sown in spring, only a month.

Seedling dive

It is advisable to do the picking 2 or 3 times. After 3 full-fledged leaves appear on young plants, they should be seated. Too thickened crops, it makes sense to dive earlier in order to give them all the opportunity to develop normally. In this case, this procedure is best done with tweezers so as not to damage the delicate, fragile plant.

Do a pick every time the seedlings grow strongly.

Seedlings can be transplanted directly into the soil of the greenhouse, or into specially prepared boxes, and plant small varieties at a distance of 15 cm from each other, the distance between large primroses is up to 30 cm. At the same time, try to ensure that there is no free space between the leaves of neighboring primroses this is not good for them.

For a permanent place of growth primroses are planted only in the second year of life in spring or autumn. Plants show their decorative properties, as a rule, in the third year of life.

How to save seed

In the event of adverse weather conditions during the winter, your primroses may freeze or swell. So that there are no empty places in the flower garden, you should always have a supply of fresh seeds from last year's collection. Store such seeds, mixed with sand, in the refrigerator or basement.

Reproduction of primroses by dividing the bush

You can start this procedure not earlier than after 3-5 years of growing primroses- in early spring, or from the second half of July. Try not to plant primroses later than the first half of September, otherwise, plants that are not yet strong may freeze and lose their decorative qualities or even die.

It is important to know. Primroses that bloom in summer should be planted in spring.

In order to plant a plant, it is abundantly watered, carefully dug up, carefully shake off a clod of earth from the roots and wash the roots in water. So it will be much more convenient for you to separate the bushes and at the same time injure the plant as little as possible.

Then, with a knife, the bush is divided into arbitrary parts, but it should be taken into account that there should be at least one renewal bud in the divisions. Sections must be processed, then as quickly as possible, avoiding drying out, the delenki must be seated in a new place. After the plants are planted in the ground, they should be watered and preferably labeled with the variety name and breeding date.

It will be better if you plant the delenki in such a way that there is no free space between the foliage of the rosettes, so the plants can protect themselves from drying out. For 2 weeks, seedlings need daily watering. In case of propagation in autumn, do not forget to carry out protective mulching for the winter.

Propagation by cuttings

Reproduction of primrose cuttings carried out according to a technology similar to reproduction by dividing the bush. But not all types of primroses can be propagated in this way.

Auricula propagated by rooting leaf cuttings. To do this, in the fall, several leaves are separated from the outlet and planted in a greenhouse, while the cutting should take root in 2-3 weeks. In spring, plants are transplanted into open ground to a permanent place.

jagged primrose easily propagated by root cuttings. For this procedure, the largest plants are suitable, in which several large thick roots are separated. In order for the root to form buds, make a longitudinal cut up to one and a half cm in its upper part. After that, the cuttings should be planted in lightweight soil 3 cm deep. Next, we proceed as described above for leaf cuttings.

You can find out here.

Primrose in garden design in photos

Primrose garden path border

Primrose in a flower bed with daffodils

Flowerbed with primroses

The genus Primula (Primula) includes about 500 species and belongs to the family of primroses (Primulaceae). Most varieties of wild primrose can be found in temperate latitudes. They gladly occupy meadow expanses and river banks. Rocky terrain is also suitable for primroses, more than 200 of their species live in the Himalayas.

The genus name comes from the word primus, Latin for first. The vast majority of species are horticultural perennials, with only a few subshrubs and evergreens. The cultural form of primrose has been mentioned for a long time, even in the Middle Ages it was widely used to decorate gardens. Some varieties (for example, P. vulgaris) have gained recognition in the culinary business.

Garden perennial primrose in floriculture

Any garden can boast of places where nothing normally grows. Such areas seem to be created for primroses. Having picked up varieties that are undemanding to conditions, it is easy to ennoble problem areas. The most decorative among unpretentious primroses are the following types: high, Japanese, finely toothed, ear. Primrose blooms from April to June, some varieties bloom throughout the summer season.

Primroses are simply indispensable for decorating shady and swampy gardens. They are amazingly hardy, unpretentious, look spectacular both in single and in group plantings.

These perennials have found application not only in gardens, they are widely used to decorate city parks and squares, as well as to equip local areas.

The main varieties and types of ordinary and decorative

Perennial primroses are very diverse, consider the most common of them.

1. Ear. Appeared as a result of crossing two other primroses: P. Hirsuta and P. Auricula. They are distinguished by shiny leathery evergreen leaves, above which an umbrella of beautiful flattened flowers rises. Three groups are distinguished among them:

• alpine;

Alpine

• decorative;

Decorative

• curb.

curb

2. Candelabra. Tall, multi-tiered, reach up to 1m in height. The name of these primroses perfectly reflects their appearance. They prefer moist, shady places; for the winter, many of them require shelter. The most famous:

• Japanese (P. japonica), one of those rare primroses that prefer the sun, height 45-50 cm.

Japanese

• Bulley (P. bulleyana).

• P. pulverulenta. Distinguished by white bloom on the leaves.

• Harlow Carr, self-seeding, have bright juicy colors.

3. Fine-toothed (Denticulata). Low (about 30 cm) Asian variety, tolerates Russian frosts well. Multi-colored flowers are collected in round inflorescences crowning absolutely naked peduncles.

Plant propagation methods: seeds and division of the bush

Reproduction of garden primrose is carried out both by seeds and by dividing the bush. Seeds are sown in boxes at the end of February, wrapped in foil and placed in a cold place. At the end of March, the containers are transferred to heat and waiting for germination. Young shoots should be protected from the sun. Seedlings are planted in the ground with the appearance of two true leaves 15-20 cm between the bushes.

Primrose seeds do not germinate well, so only a fresh crop of seeds is suitable for sowing.

The first flowers grown from primrose seeds will appear only after 1-2 years. To get early flowering, it is better to propagate primroses by dividing the bush. How it happens can be found in this article.

Features of planting and growing

Planting a primrose is not difficult. She does not like the bright sun and dry places. Often flower growers are interested in the question of when to plant a bush. Usually, after three years, the primrose grows strongly and loses its decorative properties: the inflorescences become small and lose their former splendor. Transplantation is carried out in early spring or in the second half of August by dividing the bush.

If you choose a cool day and evening for work, then planting and transplanting primroses can be done during the entire vegetative period.

Care

Primroses do not need special care if certain conditions are met. They love partial shade and thrive in fertile, slightly acidic or neutral soils. In autumn, you should not cut the leaves - with them, the plants tolerate wintering more easily, and the evergreen varieties are perfectly preserved under the snow. In the spring, with the advent of young shoots, old leaves can be carefully trimmed.

Watering

In sunlit places, primroses survive only in conditions of constant humidity. Even a short-term drying of the soil can lead to a stop in flowering or death of plants.

To retain moisture at the roots, leaf humus is added to the soil during planting. At the same time, fluid stagnation is also undesirable. When watering plants, make sure that moisture does not get on the leaves. The least demanding on soil moisture is the Acaulis variety, and the most sensitive in this regard are candelabra primroses.

Fertilizer

Heavy clay soils are not suitable for growing primroses, they are diluted with sand - one bucket per sq / m. Also, vermiculite, chopped sphagnum moss and complex organic fertilizers (up to 20 kg per sq / m) are well suited for these purposes. If desired, the topsoil can be completely replaced with a nutrient mixture.

Organic fertilizer for the garden

Organic fertilizers of 15-20 kg per sq / m (5 kg of humus, 10 kg of leaf or compost soil, 5 kg of weathered peat) must be applied to light poor soils. For abundant flowering, you can add 20 g of potash and phosphorus and 15 g of nitrogen fertilizers. After such processing, the soil will become sufficiently nutritious and retain the necessary moisture. What the Wisteria flower looks like can be seen in the photo in this

Video

In more detail, the subtleties of caring for garden primrose are shown in the form below.

Disease and pest control

Primroses are quite hardy plants, but it cannot be said that they are not at all susceptible to disease. Most often, primroses are affected by the following diseases:

downy mildew

Yellow-brown spots with a blurry contour form on the outer side of the leaves, and the inner side is covered with a spider web. The temperate climate and high humidity create ideal conditions for the spread of infection. To prevent downy mildew, weeds must be systematically removed.

If the disease has already appeared, then severely damaged plants are removed from the flower garden, and the leaves of healthy primroses are treated with copper oxychloride. Seed treatment and mandatory crop rotation are also practiced.

Gray rot

This disease affects not only the leaves of primroses, but also flowers. They are covered with a velvety gray coating. The disease occurs and progresses in conditions of excess nitrogen and moisture in the soil. The infection remains on affected areas of plants and is carried by ants or water. So that the flower garden does not become infected again, the parts affected by the disease are destroyed. And healthy flowers are periodically sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride. Places of the greatest accumulation of ants-carriers are watered with a solution of the preparation "Anteater" - 1 ml per 10 liters of water.

gray rot primrose

powdery mildew

The outer side of the leaves is covered with a creamy-white bloom, which is a mycelium and spores. Gradually, on the affected areas, the fruiting bodies of the mycelium are formed - black dots that can overwinter on plant debris. Against powdery mildew, flowers are sprayed with the Cumulus preparation at the rate of 50-70 g per 10 liters of water. As an alternative, you can use a solution of colloidal sulfur - 50-100g per 10l of water. Heavily damaged plants are removed from the flower garden.

Leaf damage by powdery mildew

Ramulariasis

The disease manifests itself in the form of yellowish even spots on the leaves, which then change color to brownish-gray. From below, under the spots, a light plaque of mycelium is formed. Control methods: damaged areas of the leaves are removed, the cleaned plant is treated with oxychloride.

Plant damage by ramularia

Pests

The main harm to primroses is caused by snails and slugs. To get rid of them, there are special baits, but they are poisonous to pets and birds. If you have pets, pests are best collected by hand.

garden slug

In the southern latitudes, primroses are threatened by another pest - the beetle furrowed beetle, a representative of the family of weevils. Sexually mature individuals feed on leaves and lay larvae that live in the root system of the plant. Over time, the infected primrose dies. Harsh chemicals are used to control this pest.

beetle

Cold resistance, unpretentiousness and a long flowering period make the primrose indispensable for a cool and humid climate. A wide variety of perennial primroses will allow you to choose the right variety for any corner of your garden. Primroses look spectacular in group plantings on lawns, in flower beds and garden vases, on rocky hills and in artificial reservoirs. Other shade-loving plants can become good neighbors for cultivated primroses: hosta, hydrangea, geyhera, bergenia, garden geranium, foxglove and other inhabitants of natural gardens.

Plant common primrose (lat. Primula vulgaris), or common primrose- herbaceous perennial from the genus Primrose. Under natural conditions, primrose grows in Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. The primrose has been known since time immemorial - the ancient Greeks considered it the medicinal flower of Olympus and called it the "dodecatheon" - the flower of the twelve gods. Primula is one of the first spring flowers, popularly called "rams" or "keys". The Old Norse saga tells that primrose flowers are the keys of the fertility goddess Freya, with which she opens spring. And the Germans believe that primrose is the key to marriage. The Celts and Gauls included primrose in the composition of the love drink.

There is a Danish legend that the princess of the elves who fell in love with a mortal became a primrose, and the ancient Greeks came up with a myth in which the gods turned the body of the young man Paralysos, who died of love, into a fragrant primrose out of compassion, and now this flower cures all ailments, including and from paralysis - it is not for nothing that in folk medicine the flower is called paralytic grass. The cultivation of primrose in Europe began in the 16th century, it has always been a popular flower in England - in this country there are several clubs of lovers of primrose auricles. Sometimes addiction weakened, but then revived with renewed vigor. Currently, primrose exhibitions are held annually in England, and every time there is something to see - a blooming primrose is an amazing sight.

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• Landing: sowing personally collected seeds in boxes dug into the ground - immediately after collection. Sowing the purchased seeds for seedlings - in early February, transplanting seedlings into open ground - at the end of May in two years or in the fall in the second year of life.
• Bloom: spring or summer - depending on the type and variety.
• Lighting: depending on the type and variety - in the bright sun or in the shade of trees and shrubs.
• The soil: moist, loose, light, moisture-intensive nutrient soils.
• Watering: The soil in the flower bed should always be slightly moist. In hot weather, you will need to water more often. Water consumption - 3 liters per m² of land.
• Top dressing: mineral fertilizers with a reduced nitrogen component in half the dosage indicated by the manufacturers weekly from the moment the leaves appear until the end of flowering.
• Reproduction: seeds, leaf cuttings and dividing the bush.
• Pests: beetles and slugs.
• Diseases: bacterial spot, anthracnose, jaundice, rust, powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus, stem and root collar rot.

Read more about growing primrose below.

Primrose flower - description

The Primrose genus is one of the most numerous in the world flora; according to various sources, it has from 400 to 550 species, but plants of this genus that have not been described by scientists are still found in nature. 33 species grow in Europe, 2 - in North America, one species on the island of Java, several in South America and Africa, and the remaining three hundred plus species of primrose grow in Asia, Western China and the Himalayas. Primrose chooses wet places - in meadows, along the banks of streams and mountain rivers.

The underground part of the primrose is a rhizome with roots. The basal leaf rosette consists of dissected or simple, sessile or petiolate oblong oval lanceolate leaves. In some species, the leaves are wrinkled, in others leathery, dense, grayish-green in color, as if covered with wax. Primrose flowers on long leafless peduncles solitary or collected in pyramidal, spherical, cushion-shaped, tiered, bell-shaped or umbellate inflorescences. They have a tubular shape with a bend - flat or funnel-shaped. The fruit of the primrose is a cylindrical or spherical polysemyanka.

In culture, perennial and annual garden primrose is grown, primrose is also cultivated at home.

Growing primrose from seeds

Sowing primrose seeds

Primrose seeds lose their germination very quickly, so it is best to sow the seeds immediately after they are collected in boxes installed in the ground. If you bought high-quality seeds and do not want to risk them, then planting primrose seeds for seedlings is carried out in early February on the surface of a substrate consisting of two parts of leafy soil, one part of sand and one part of sod land. There should be no more than 5 seeds per 1 cm² of the substrate, which are not covered, but simply pressed to the surface. A container with crops is placed in a plastic bag and placed in a freezer for 3-4 weeks at a temperature not higher than -10 ºC.

After a month, the frozen crops in bags are transferred to the windowsill, shading from direct rays, and waiting for seedlings, keeping the soil slightly moist. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 16-18 ºC. Not all types of primroses need stratification - for example, common primrose and finely toothed sprout without freezing. When shoots begin to appear, and primrose seeds are usually in no hurry to germinate, the packages are gradually opened slightly, accustoming the seedlings to air, and after two weeks the packages are removed completely.

Primrose seedling

Primrose seedlings grow very slowly. After the appearance of two or three true leaves, the seedlings dive into the boxes with tweezers and continue to care for them, moistening the soil as necessary. You need to dive seedlings every time they grow strongly. Primula is grown from seeds before planting in open ground for two years.

Planting primrose

When to plant primrose

Planting perennial primrose in open ground is carried out in spring or autumn in the second year of life. If you decide to plant a primrose in the spring, then do it at the end of May. Primrose grows best in open ground in the shade of garden trees and shrubs, where direct sunlight does not penetrate. Only alpine species of primrose in the northern regions are planted in the open sun. The soil for primrose is preferable to moisture, loose, light and well-drained, in which moisture will not stagnate for a long time.

Primrose grows well in clay soil. Too heavy clay soil can be made lighter by adding a bucket of sand, 2 kg of manure, vermiculite and chopped sphagnum moss for digging per 1 m² of land.

How to plant primrose

Small types of primrose are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, and large ones - after 20-30 cm. When planting, keep in mind that the primrose does not like open spaces, so plant seedlings in such a way that when the plants grow, plantings will be closed. Primula blooms from seeds in the second or third year of life.

Primrose care in the garden

How to grow primrose

Planting and caring for primrose in the open field usually go without difficulty. How to care for a primrose planted in open ground? Keep the soil in your primrose bed slightly moist, loose and clean - after a weekly heavy watering, be sure to loosen the soil and remove weeds. In hot weather, the frequency of watering will have to be doubled. Water consumption in one session is approximately three liters per m².

Caring for perennial primrose provides for frequent feeding of the flower with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizers - the concentration should be half as much as the instructions provide, and the application frequency should be weekly from the moment the first leaves appear until the end of flowering. However, you should not abuse the nitrogen component of complex fertilizers, because next year you will wait for flowers, and you will see only lush greenery. To prevent this from happening, apply only phosphorus and potash fertilizers every other time.

Primrose transplant

The care and cultivation of primrose involves transplanting the plant at the same time as dividing the bush every 4-5 years, since the primrose tends to grow strongly. For information on how and when to transplant primrose, read the next section.

Primrose breeding

In addition to the seed method, primrose is used for propagation dividing the bush and leaf cuttings. In the fourth or fifth year, overgrown primrose bushes in August or the first half of September are watered, dug, shake off the ground from their roots, then they wash the roots in a bucket, divide the plant with a knife into several parts with at least one renewal point on each, sprinkle the slices with ash and then delenki are planted in a new place. After planting, the primrose is watered. Dividing the bush not only rejuvenates the plant, but also provides free planting material that you can be completely sure of.

If the plant has a weak root system or only one outlet, then it is propagated by axillary shoots. The primrose leaf with the petiole, bud and part of the shoot is separated and planted in the soil mixture, after cutting the leaf plate in half. Keep the cutting in a bright place, but protected from direct sunlight, at a temperature of 16-18 ºC in a moderately moist substrate. When the buds give shoots with three or four leaves, they are planted in pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm, and in the spring they are transferred to open ground.

Pests and diseases of primrose

Primrose in the garden is affected by rot of the root neck and stems, jaundice, bacterial spotting, rust, anthracnose, powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus. As soon as you notice mutated leaves, destroy them immediately.

Of the pests, various nematodes and aphids, spider mites and weevils, as well as beetles, slugs and fleas, are dangerous to the plant. It is better to fight diseases by treating the primrose in the spring with a two percent solution of Topsin or Fundazol, one percent Bordeaux liquid or copper oxychloride, and in the fall, prophylactic treatment with a one percent solution of Nitrafen is advisable. Beetles and slugs will have to be collected by hand, mites are killed by Actellik treatment, and nematodes are killed by Ragor.

Perennial primrose after flowering

Primrose in autumn

After the primrose has faded, loosen the soil on the site, clear it of weeds and leave the primrose alone until winter - at this time, its leaves begin to grow. It is very important that the leaf rosette is preserved until late autumn, as it will serve as a natural shelter for the plant. If you cut the leaves in the fall, the primrose will begin to grow smaller, its flowering will weaken, and it will lose its decorative effect. But when spring begins, it is better to remove the old, overwintered primrose leaves.

Garden primrose in winter

In areas with cold winters, primroses require shelter with dry leaves, straw or spruce branches, and the covering layer should be at least 7-10 cm. There are types of primroses that do not need shelter, for example, Julia's primrose. In areas with warm snowy winters, the primrose can not be covered - snow cover will be enough. However, with the onset of spring, watch how the snow melts - the primrose should not succumb under the ice crust. Destroy the crust, let the water flow freely.

Types and varieties of primrose

As already mentioned, there are so many primroses in nature that botanists had to divide them into 30 sections. In culture, there are also plenty of species, varieties and hybrids. You can describe them endlessly. We will introduce you to the most common species in culture and their most popular varieties.

Primrose stemless, or ordinary (Primula vulgaris)

In nature, it grows in Southern and Central Europe on the edges of forests, in alpine meadows near melting snow. This species has a short rhizome with thick cord-like roots. Lanceolate leaves up to 6 cm wide and up to 25 cm long are partially preserved during the winter. Light yellow or white with a purple throat, single flowers open on short peduncles 6 to 20 cm high, their wide petals are divided into two lobes.

Despite the fact that it was called ordinary, the stemless primrose is very beautiful and during flowering, its bush looks like a bouquet. Flowering can begin in March, sometimes this species blooms again in September. In culture since the 16th century. Varieties:

• Virginia- white flowers with a pale yellow throat;
• Giga White- white primrose;
• cerulea- blue flowers with a yellow throat.

Primula high (Primula elatior)

It grows in the Carpathians, in the middle and southern parts of Western Europe. This is a perennial with wrinkled, oval, finely toothed leaves along the edge, from 5 to 20 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide, which sharply taper towards the petiole. On the upper side of the leaf, the veins are depressed, and on the lower side they protrude. Light yellow with a bright yellow spot at the base of the petals, fragrant flowers up to 2 cm in diameter are collected in umbellate inflorescences of 5-15 pieces. Barely pubescent peduncle reaches a height of 10 to 35 cm.

Primula high blooms profusely from April for 50-60 days. There are hybrids with larger flowers of lilac, white, cream, red, yellow colors - plain, with an eye or bordered. Varieties:

• Duplex- cherry flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter with a dark yellow throat;
• Rosea- dark pink flowers with a yellow eye;
• Gelle Farben- light purple flowers with a diameter of 3.5 cm with a yellow throat;
• Goldgrand- brown flowers with a golden border and a yellow throat, diameter 2.5 cm.

There are groups of hybrids based on tall primrose with large flowers and long peduncles, attractive for cutting cultivation. Among them are the primrose terry Curiosity of a yellow-brown hue, and the Golden Dream of a bright yellow color, and Olga Manden with flowers of a light red hue.

Primula Siebold (Primula sieboldii)

It blooms in June with lilac and pink flowers of different shades, collected in loose umbellate inflorescences. After flowering, this ephemeroid leaves die off.

Spring primrose (Primula veris)

Which is often called primrose officinalis, a representative of the European flora. She has wrinkled ovoid leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 6 cm wide with veins depressed on the upper side and convex on the lower pubescent side. The flowers are yellow with an orange spot at the base of the petals. Garden forms of this species have a rich palette of colors - plain and two-tone simple or double flowers bloom profusely from April to June.

In addition to the species described, primroses of Sikim, Bisa, fine-toothed, ear, Geller, snow, small, Voronova, Yulia, Komarov, Ruprecht and many, many others are attractive for flower growers.

Primrose properties

All parts of evening primrose contain high concentrations of manganese salts. The ground parts of the plant are rich in vitamins, the rhizomes are rich in saponins, essential oils and glycosides. Primrose leaves are used in salads, added to stir-fries and soups. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid and carotene in them in the spring, during beriberi, they support the body.

Not only fresh, but also powdered dried roots and leaves of primrose are used for food. As a medicine, primrose is used for expectoration in diseases of the respiratory tract - a medicinal infusion is made from the rhizomes, and a decoction is made from the leaves. Primula is used for pain relief in rheumatism and as a diuretic in diseases of the kidneys and bladder.

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