Primula & polyanthus
If you have any spots that could do with cheering up, look no further than advanced pots of primula and polyanthus, writes JUDY HORTON
Planting primulas (Primula spp.) in pots or borders is a quick and easy way to brighten up the winter garden. Available now in nurseries as advanced potted colour, these flowering beauties prefer cool, moist conditions, and will continue to bloom right through winter and into spring in most parts of Australia. Primulas don’t do so well in the humid tropics, although they can sometimes be enjoyed as short-term indoor plants, when available.
Most of us are familiar with primrose (P. vulgaris) and cowslip (P. veris), which often feature in English storybooks, but these are just two of more than 400 species of primula that are found in Europe, China, the Himalayas and as far south as the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
Auricula (P. auricula) was at the height of fashion in Victorian England. Its flowers come in an astonishing variety of shapes and shades, often dusted with a sugar-frosting coating called farina. Due to its alpine origins, this primula requires perfect drainage, and protection from overhead watering or rain.
polyanthus
One of the most popular primulas in Australia for bright displays from early winter to spring is polyanthus (Primula x polyantha), which was developed by combining primrose, cowslip and oxlip (P. elatior). Flowers range in colour from white to strong pinks, blues, yellows and reds. Some have contrasting central ‘eyes’, while others are classed as ‘gold-laced’ because their petals are edged with a fine yellow line. Although their flowers are traditionally open-faced singles, modern polyanthus varieties can have fluffy, semi-double or double flowers.
Polyanthus is guaranteed to cheer you up on even the gloomiest winter’s day. Just one potted plant will brighten an indoor windowsill, and groups can be clumped together in outdoor containers or used to fill gaps in garden beds. These plants are generally at their best in a lightly shaded position, but will grow happily in full sun in cooler areas.
fairy primrose
The least-pretentious of the primula family is the fairy primrose (P. malacoides). Named for its dainty, fairy-like appearance, this species mixes beautifully with hellebores, cinerarias and early flowering bulbs. Fairy primrose is also wonderful for filling hanging baskets, window boxes and containers, both inside and out.
Slender stems rise above a base of attractively crinkled foliage, topped with dancing mini-bouquets of open flowers, 1–2cm across, with scalloped edges. The best known of these is P. malacoides ‘Lollipops’, with a colour mix ranging from white to pink, mauve, purple and burgundy. The elegant ‘Gilhams White’ is a favourite with white-garden aficionados, and its cool tones help lighten shady garden beds.
If you keep plants well watered, and remove dead blooms regularly, fairy primroses will continue flowering well into spring. At the end of the season, leave a few plants to die down naturally and you may be lucky enough to have some volunteer seedlings pop up next autumn.
growing tips
In midwinter, it’s best to buy primulas that are already in bloom. Most garden centres will have advanced polyanthus and fairy primroses in single pots or as advanced seedlings. It’s too late to start them from seed, as they won’t have enough time to reach flowering stage before the hot weather kicks in.
When you bring your plants home, keep pots out of the hot sun; give them a good soaking before and after planting. Add compost before planting and use quality potting mix to fill containers. It can be helpful to add pre-swollen water crystals or soil-wetter to the mix. If you’re planting into hanging baskets, consider plastic ones, which hold moisture better than wire baskets with porous liners.
Water plants regularly at the base, keeping the leaves as dry as possible, and make sure they have good drainage. Remove dead flowers, and feed every couple of weeks with a flower-promoting liquid fertiliser. Pests don’t usually create problems but watch for holes in leaves caused by caterpillars or snails.
As temperatures rise and days lengthen, flowering slows and the plants die down. Although they are technically perennials, it’s best to treat all primulas as annuals in most growing areas in Australia and plant fresh stock each year. If you are in a cooler area and you plant in a shady spot, they should flower again next season, although probably not as well. All primulas make good house plants as long as they are kept cool and located in a bright spot near a window. Turn the pots regularly for even exposure.
Whether you have one pot of colour, a basket of fairy primroses or massed beds of showy polyanthus, primulas will give you a cheery display from winter into the cooler part of spring.