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

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

Garden perennial primrose in floriculture

Any garden can boast of places where nothing grows normally. Such areas seem to be created for primroses. By selecting varieties that are undemanding to conditions, it is easy to refine problem areas. The most decorative among unpretentious primroses are the following types: tall, Japanese, fine-toothed, auricular. Primroses bloom from April to June, with some varieties blooming throughout the summer season.

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

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

Main varieties and types, ordinary and ornamental

Perennial primroses are very diverse, let's look at the most common ones.

1. Ear. They 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. Among them there are three groups:

• alpine;

Alpine

• decorative;

Decorative

• borders.

Curb

2. Candelabra. Tall, multi-tiered, reaching up to 1 m in height. The name of these primroses perfectly reflects them appearance. They prefer moist, shady places; many of them require shelter for the winter. 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. It is distinguished by a white coating on the leaves.

• Harlow Carr are self-seeding and have bright, rich colors.

3. Fine-toothed (Denticulata). A short (about 30cm) Asian variety that tolerates Russian frosts well. Multi-colored flowers are collected in round inflorescences crowning completely bare peduncles.

Plant propagation methods: by seeds and dividing the bush

Garden primrose is propagated both by seeds and by dividing the bush. Seeds are sown in boxes at the end of February, wrapped in film and placed in a cool place. At the end of March, the containers are transferred to a warm place and await 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 of primrose grown from seeds will appear only after 1-2 years. To get early flowering, it is better to propagate primroses by dividing the bush. How this happens can be found in this article.

Features of planting and growing

Planting primrose is not difficult. She does not like bright sun and dry places. Flower growers are often interested in the question of when to plant a bush. Usually, after three years, the primrose grows greatly and loses its decorative properties: the inflorescences become small and lose their former splendor. The transplant 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 time for work, then planting and replanting primroses can be done throughout the entire growing season.

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 the fall, you should not cut off the leaves - with them, the plants endure wintering easier, and evergreen varieties are perfectly preserved under the snow. In the spring, with the appearance of young shoots, old leaves can be carefully trimmed.

Watering

On illuminated sunny places primroses survive only in conditions of constant humidity. Even short-term drying out of the soil can lead to stopping 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, you must ensure that moisture does not get on the leaves. The Acaulis variety is the least demanding of soil moisture, while the most sensitive in this regard are the candelabra primroses.

Fertilizer

Heavy clay soils are not suitable for growing primroses; they are diluted with sand - one bucket per sq. m. Vermiculite, chopped sphagnum moss and complex organic fertilizers (up to 20 kg per sq.m.) are also well suited for these purposes. If desired, the top layer of soil can be completely replaced with the nutrient mixture.

Organic fertilizer for the garden

In light, poor soils, organic types of fertilizers must be added at a rate of 15-20 kg per sq. m (5 kg of humus, 10 kg of leaf or compost soil, 5 kg of weathered peat). For abundant flowering you can add 20 g of potassium and phosphorus and 15 g of nitrogen fertilizers. After this treatment, 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

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

Disease and pest control

Primroses are quite hardy plants, but it cannot be said that they are completely disease-free. Most often, primroses are affected by the following diseases:

Downy mildew

On outside The leaves develop yellow-brown spots with a vague outline, and the inside is covered with a cobwebby coating. The temperate climate and high humidity create ideal conditions for the spread of infection. To prevent downy mildew, it is necessary to systematically remove weeds.

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 primrose leaves, but also flowers. They are covered with a velvety gray coating. The disease occurs and progresses under conditions of excess nitrogen and moisture in the soil. The infection remains on the affected areas of the plants and is carried by ants or water. To prevent the flower garden from becoming infected again, the parts affected by the disease are destroyed. And healthy flowers are periodically sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride. Places of greatest concentration of ant carriers are watered with a solution of the Anteater preparation - 1 ml per 10 liters of water.

Gray rot of primrose

Powdery mildew

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

Leaf infection with powdery mildew

Ramulariasis

The disease appears as smooth yellowish spots on the leaves, which then change color to brownish-gray. A light coating of mycelium forms below the spots. Control methods: damaged areas of leaves are removed, the cleaned plant is treated with oxychloride.

Damage to a plant by ramularia

Pests

The main damage to primroses is caused by snails and slugs. There are special baits to get rid of them, but they are poisonous to pets and birds. If you have pets, it is better to collect pests by hand.

garden slug

In southern latitudes, primroses are threatened by another pest - the sulcata beetle, a member of the family of weevils. 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.

Sulcata beetle

Cold resistance, unpretentiousness and a long flowering period make primrose indispensable for cool and humid climates. Big variety perennial primroses will allow you to choose suitable variety for every 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, heuchera, bergenia, garden geranium, foxglove and other inhabitants of natural gardens.

Primrose- 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 areas of the highlands.

But, like all plants, primrose has the ability to adapt to other growing conditions, which is why it has been successfully cultivated by gardeners around the world, including Russia, for centuries.

Description of primrose

Primrose primrose- one of the most diverse and widespread early flowering plants. There are up to 550 species in total. Most often it is a perennial, herbaceous or semi-shrub crop, but both annual and biennial primroses are also found.

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 on a variety of shapes - lanceolate, oblong-oval, oval.

Considering species diversity primrose leaves may have uneven surface, or a dense, leathery texture. The leaves can live either only one season, dying after the first frost, or overwinter under snow cover and come alive for the new season.

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

Primrose color have the most variety, there are single-colored, two-colored and tricolored plants. Terry primroses have been bred by breeders. Often the flowers have an eye. A peduncle without leaves produces one or more flowers collected in spherical, umbrella-shaped or pyramidal inflorescences.

Primrose gives fruits in the form of seed boxes. The seeds in the boxes are small, dark brown, cylindrical or spherical in shape. Flowering period is spring. There are species that bloom in summer.

Useful properties of primrose

Even the ancient Greeks valued medicinal properties primrose (primrose), and this is not surprising. The root system of this plant is included in the composition of diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant drugs that help to start the processes of secretion of sputum from the respiratory tract.

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

The agricultural technology for growing this crop is not that complicated. In this article we want to tell you about how to grow primrose in open ground and in the garden. We will not dwell on the description of this family of early flowering ones; you can read about the varieties and types of primroses in.

Growing primrose in open ground

What is the best place to plant primroses?

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

Moisture and soil requirements for planting primroses

Hydration

The soil for primroses should be loose and moisture-absorbing. In other words, primroses should receive a large amount of moisture, but the liquid should not stagnate and over-moisten the soil.

IN spring period, in April-May, hydration should be the most intense, because in nature, when the snow melts in the mountains, primroses literally drown in water. Often in our conditions there is little rain at this time, so take care 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 by submerging them. root system 1-2 cm into the water.

The soil

Regardless of where the ancestors of your primrose grew before, in mountain crevices with poor soils, or along mountain rivers, or among alpine meadows with rich fertile soils, in garden culture, primroses should be provided with loose, well-manured soils - light and clayey. Such soil retains nutrients, is well saturated with moisture and drains fairly quickly.

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

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

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

The disadvantage of light soils is their low nutrient content. Such soils are enriched with:

• 5 kg of old humus,
• 10 kg of leaf (compost) soil,
• 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 require special care. The main thing is to ensure required amount moisture and sufficient air flow to the primrose root system. To maintain proper nutrient levels, be sure to regularly get rid of weeds.

Feeding primroses

During the growing season primroses should be fed three times per season potassium-phosphorus fertilizer and regularly organic fertilizer.

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

All this time, do not forget to add slurry to the primrose bushes (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 5cm layer of gravel. In addition, it will serve as an excellent decorative addition to primrose plantings.

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

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

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

Helpful advice: The rosette of such varieties of primroses as Japanese, Florinda and Fine-toothed is not retained entirely, only 3-4 leaves are left, this significantly reduces the likelihood of primrose becoming infected with rot of the root collar and leaves, and also allows the plant to form larger and bright flowers to spring.

Mulching for the winter is easiest done at the end of autumn with a 10 cm layer of tree leaves.

Diseases and pests of primroses

Most often primroses are susceptible the following diseases:

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

From pests Damage often occurs:

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

The most big trouble primrose brings fungus Ramularia cercosporella . This is evidenced by the appearance in late spring of first pale and then brown spots with a yellow border on the leaves of the plant.

When sporulation of mushrooms begins, and this usually happens 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, and weakening of the plant.

To prevent such situations, regularly inspect the primrose bushes. If you find affected leaves, remove and destroy them. Twice a year, immediately after flowering and in early spring treat the primrose plantings with the following compounds:

• 0.2% topsin, 2% foundationazole, 1.5% zineb,

• 0.5% copper oxychloride, 1% Bordeaux mixture.

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

Interesting to know. Primrose Julia, Common, Spring and Tall primroses are most susceptible to this disease. Primula Ushkovaya, Primula Pink, and Pallas were found to be more resistant to damage by Ramularia cercosporella. Primroses Japanese, Florinda and Fine-toothed do not suffer from this fungus.

Reproduction of primroses

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

Growing primroses from seeds

Requirements for seeds and substrate

Primroses produce a ripe seed capsule in the second half of summer. But when collecting seed material, one should take into account the fact that Primrose seeds lose their viability very easily. That's why for sowing, take only freshly harvested planting material.

In principle, you can sow primrose at any time of the year, but in Middle lane we recommend that you do this from the end of February. Try to find the most suitable day for this using. This way you will achieve better germination of seedlings and their normal development.

If you are planning to sow primroses at your summer cottage in open ground, then wait until the snow melts and prepare boxes or containers for sowing, digging them into the ground. This way you will 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 away by rainfall, and is not damaged by various pets.

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

Containers for sowing

The most suitable for this are mini-greenhouses or containers with drainage holes at the bottom, with plastic, transparent lids. But you can use for these purposes any suitable container that allows you to set up 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 a substrate, consisting of:

• 1/4 turf 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 if these components are not part of the mixture.

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

Sowing primrose seeds

These plants are sown on the soil surface at the rate of 5 grains per 1 sq. cm of sown area. This can be done using a napkin on which the seeds are poured, or using a toothpick, having first moistened its tip with water. The seeds need to 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 produce friendly shoots, the seeds of such varieties of primroses as Pink, Florinda, Japanese, Siebold, Vysokaya and Opuschenaya need cold start. This means that immediately after sowing, the containers are placed in the freezer (up to -10 degrees) or covered with snow for 3-4 weeks.

Primroses of Siebold and Vysoky after cold start should be germinated in dark room until sprouts appear. We do not recommend that amateur flower growers engage in such varieties of primroses; leave this 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 regularly moistening the soil using a spray bottle or syringe without a needle. Just don’t overdo it with watering, otherwise the seedlings will start to rot very quickly!

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

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

Diving seedlings

It is advisable to do the picking 2 or 3 times. After 3 full leaves appear on the young plants, they should be planted. It makes sense to plant crops that are too dense and earlier in order to give them all the opportunity to develop normally. In this case, it is better to do this procedure using tweezers so as not to damage the delicate, fragile plant.

Make 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 unfavorable for them.

On permanent place growth Primroses are planted only in the second year of life in spring or autumn. Plants usually show their decorative properties in the third year of life.

How to save seed

In case of unfavorable weather conditions V winter time your primroses may freeze or dry out. To ensure that there are no empty spaces left in the flower garden, you should always have a supply of fresh seeds from last year’s harvest. These seeds are stored mixed with sand in the refrigerator or basement.

Reproduction of primroses by dividing the bush

You can start this procedure no earlier than after 3-5 years of growing primroses- early spring, or from the second half of July. Try not to plant primroses later than the first half of September, otherwise the plants that have not yet matured may freeze and lose their decorative qualities or even die.

It is important to know. Plant primroses that bloom in summer in spring.

In order to plant a plant, water it abundantly, carefully dig it up, carefully shake off the clod of earth from the roots and wash the roots in water. This will make it much more convenient for you to divide the bushes and at the same time injure the plant as little as possible.

Then the bush is divided into arbitrary parts with a knife, but it should be taken into account that the divisions must contain at least one renewal bud. The sections must be processed, then as quickly as possible, without allowing them to dry out, the cuttings must be planted in a new place. After the plants are planted in the ground, they should be watered and preferably provided with a label with the name of the variety and the date of propagation.

It will be better if you plant the divisions 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.

Reproduction by cuttings

Reproduction of primroses by cuttings carried out using a technology similar to propagation by dividing a 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 rosette and planted in a greenhouse, while the cuttings should take root in 2-3 weeks. In spring, the plants are transplanted into open ground to a permanent location.

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

You can find out here.

Primrose in garden design in photographs

Border along the garden path made of primroses

Primrose in a flowerbed with daffodils

Flowerbed with primroses

ECOgardener

Varieties of primrose (photos and names of flowers for open ground)

Garden primroses are loved by many summer residents, but not everyone knows which varieties and species are suitable for open ground. After all, the genus Primrose is vast and diverse, and it is difficult to say how many species there are. Some sources write that there are about 300 of them, in others 550. And if you remember about the varieties and hybrids bred by breeders, you will get completely confused, because they often lack even approximate signs of the original plant. Flower growers can argue long and hard about varietal diversity primula, but they will all agree that this delicate primrose deserves its place in any garden.

Garden primroses: varieties and species with photos in the landscape

Primroses bloom in early spring, hence the name - primrose. However, it cannot be applied to all varieties - there are summer-flowering species. The leaves of the plant are leathery and covered with soft down. This feature became the reason to come up with another name for primrose - rams. Flower exhibitions are held annually in England, where it is easy to find the rarest and most unique varieties.

Primula (Primula) – medium-sized, beautifully flowering herbaceous plant(biennial and perennial), belongs to the Primrose family, order Ericaceae. Different types and varieties of flowers are scattered almost all over the world. Somewhere there are legends about it, and in some countries primrose leaves are used to prepare spring salads and medicinal tea. But you should be careful, for example, Opconica primrose is dangerous for allergy sufferers.

One of the most common legends tells of a guardian of the heavenly monastery who lost the keys to paradise. Having fallen to the ground, they sprouted flowers of incredible beauty - primroses, which in some places, following the legend, are called keys. In Switzerland, primrose is considered a talisman that brings happiness. The beliefs associated with the flower can be described endlessly, and everywhere the primrose has positive value, she was even credited with magical (love) properties.

Varietal, species and hybrid diversity of primroses (description and photo)

For some reason, primrose is considered to be a forest plant, although in nature it is also found near the shores of reservoirs, in the mountains, in alpine meadows and even near snowfields. Sometimes a flower is found in such extreme conditions where other, even the hardiest plants cannot take root. And what is noteworthy is that such primroses are almost impossible to grow in a flower garden.

Botanists, due to the enormous diversity of primroses, divided the genus into 23 sections, and amateur gardeners distinguish several groups. The culture also has individual species, varieties and hybrids; it is extremely difficult to describe them all; let’s look at the most popular ones.

Section Oreophlomis

These are miniature and medium-sized primroses that bloom as soon as the snow melts. The leaves are pubescent, finely toothed along the edges, the flowers of the original species are pink with a yellow throat. A bright representative of the section – primrose pink, its flowers are small, single or collected in loose umbrellas, the height of the peduncle is about 15 cm. The species blooms at the end of April or in May, and the leaves grow back after the buds have withered. Pink primrose loves wetlands.

Auricular section

There are 21 species of primroses in total; they are miniature and native to Europe. The leaves are fleshy, oval, the whole plant is covered with a powdery coating. Considered the most beautiful auricular primrose– the leaves in the basal rosette are evergreen, dense, up to 20 cm in length, finely toothed along the edges. Flowers about 2.5 cm in diameter are collected in umbellate inflorescences. The height of the peduncle can reach 25 cm, the roots are superficial, the entire plant is covered with a powdery coating. Blooms from April to June.

The original species has yellow flowers, and varieties and hybrids of auricular primrose delight with a variety of colors. There are two-color and terry forms. The plant is unpretentious and frost-resistant, loves moisture, grows well only in fertile, calcium-rich, well-drained soil in slightly shaded areas.

Another bright representative of the section is (a hybrid of the species described above). It has an incredible number of diverse garden varieties, which over time were divided into several groups:

• terry - lush flowers, varieties are relatively unpretentious, although they require frequent feeding. Blooms in June (Hopley Coffee, Fred Booley, Susanna, etc.);
• Belgian - plants without powdery coating, flowers with a yellow throat, monochromatic or bicolor;
• border - varieties with a powdery coating, obtained in open ground, undemanding and durable, bloom earlier than others. Flowers are plain, without a ring around the center (Old Irish, Joyce, Blue, etc.);
• English - the bushes are covered with a powdery coating, the flowers have a white center, from which thin stripes extend along the petals;
• alpine - without powdery coating, the flowers are bright, different in the color of the center. Basically, varieties of this group are capricious, often grown in greenhouses or in the southern regions (Bradfort City, Snooty Fox, Sirius, etc.).

There are also groups of exhibition auricula, but they cannot be grown in the garden. Among the other primroses included in the section, we can also distinguish such species as coarse-haired, small, Delecluse, bordered, hairy and Carniolian primroses.

Section of serrated primroses

Most interesting - primrose fine-toothed with spherical inflorescences on half-meter peduncles. The leaves are wrinkled, elongated (about 20 cm), the bush is covered with a yellow powdery coating.

It begins to bloom in April, but even a rosette of young leaves with unopened buds looks very beautiful. An unpretentious, frost-resistant, easy-to-grow species with flowers of various shades:

• Alba - the diameter of white flowers is up to 2 cm, and the inflorescences are about 15 cm, loves shaded, wet places;
• Violet - inflorescences are slightly smaller than the previous variety, the buds are purple, the peduncle is no higher than 30 cm;
• Rubra - ruby-red flowers, the parameters of the plant are the same as those of the Violet variety.

Voilet Alba Red

Section includes primula capitata(perennial, rarely biennial plants), all parts of the bush have a powdery coating, it is especially thick with reverse side foliage. Stem up to 30 cm in height. The flowers, bell-shaped with jagged edges, are collected in flat-round, capitate umbels. Blooms from mid-June to early August. The species is shade-tolerant, moisture-loving and relatively frost-resistant. Varieties:

• Mura - distinguished by a powerful bush and wrinkled foliage, densely covered with a powdery coating;
• curly - without plaque.

Section of candelabra primroses

All plants included in this section require good shelter for the winter. The buds in the inflorescences are arranged in rings. The most noticeable thing is that the stem is no higher than half a meter, the flowers up to 3 cm in diameter are collected in whorls, which are arranged in tiers (from 4 to 6). The color of the petals can be pink, crimson and white.

The plant is more comfortable in moist soil, in partial shade. Blooms from early to mid summer. Varieties:

• Valley Red cherry flowers with a red tint;
• Miller's Crimson - crimson, very bright flowers with a dark throat;
• Apple Blossom – pink, delicate flowers with a red center;
• white flowers – Alba and Postford White.

It’s also impossible not to notice powdered primrose. In nature, it grows in the marshy areas of China and is the most decorative in this section. Flowers are up to 3.5 cm in diameter, their color depends on the variety, they can be different shades of pink. The bush is covered with powdery coating, the stem is up to 1 m in height and contains about 8 tiers.

Cortus primula section

The section contains species with funnel-shaped flowers located in loose umbels and petiolate leaves; there is no plaque on all parts of the bush. They are all very unpretentious. Primrose cortusiformes with oval, toothed leaves and pubescent stems (up to 60 cm). Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with a deep notch in the middle. In the original species they are red with purple tint. Blooms in May and June.

Also worth noting rock primrose– peduncles up to 30 cm, buds bluish-lilac, foliage wrinkled, dissected. The species blooms from mid-spring to early summer. It grows well on moist, loose loams in the sun, and is often used to decorate rocky hills.

Other interesting views:

• n. Siebold;
• n. multinervous;
• n. rejected.

Section muscarioides

The section includes 17 species of biennial and perennial primroses with cylindrical pointed inflorescences. All of them require abundant watering and shelter for the winter. The brightest and most memorable perennial from this section is considered Primrose Vial– stem height 50 cm, inflorescence-spike consists of small fragrant flowers. The buds open from bottom to top. The leaves are large, unevenly toothed. The species blooms in June and July. Grows well in rich, loose, moist soils, in partial shade or sun.

Powdery primrose section

There are about 90 varieties collected here with a powdery coating (white or yellow) on the leaves, especially noticeable on the back side. Plants prefer moist, fertile and permeable soil and require shelter for the winter.

Biennial species predominate; among perennials, we can separately note Norwegian primrose. The bush is no higher than 25 cm, the flowers are pink, dark and light, they are located in loose umbrella inflorescences. Blooms in the first half of summer. Another type that does not require frequent updating and deserves attention is. Peduncles up to 30 cm, leaves finely toothed, flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter, pinkish-lilac with a white or yellow center.

Primrose section

This includes the most unpretentious and most common plants in decorative floriculture without powdery coating on the bushes. Primrose high– leaves up to 20 cm in length, wrinkled, peduncle about 35 cm, pubescent, umbellate inflorescence, sometimes drooping. Blooms from April. The species has a huge number of incredibly decorative hybrids, but we will pay a little attention to popular varieties:

• Alba - peduncle no higher than 20 cm, flowers white with a yellow throat;
• Erfurt giants (varietal series) - maximum peduncle height 30 cm. The inflorescences are large, flowers of various shades;
• Colossea - a mixture of flower colors up to 4 cm in diameter, often with a yellow throat and white rims;
• Big Ben is also a magnificent mixture of colors with flowers 2.5 cm in diameter. Peduncle height 25 cm;
• Rosea - flower diameter 2.5 cm, stem height 20 cm. Flowers can be of various shades of pink, sometimes in combination with yellow;
• Cerulea - flowers are bright, dark blue, velvety with a yellow throat. Arrow height up to 15 cm.

Primula polyanthus or multifloral– flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, collected in dense umbrella inflorescences, their color depends on the variety or hybrid. The species blooms from May. The species is very delicate and requires careful shelter for the winter. Varieties:

• Blue jeans - white flowers with blue veins;
• Francesca - ruffled lemon-green flowers with a yellow throat;
• Faye (varietal series) – the color of the flowers is very expressive, with unusual combinations;
• Super Nova (varietal series) - blooms as soon as the snow melts. Suitable for southern regions only.

Spring primrose- a very unpretentious species with wrinkled, unevenly toothed leaves with wavy edges. Flowers are collected in loose umbrellas. It has a huge number of varieties and hybrids, and there are double forms. Primula vulgare or stemless grows in the South, peduncles up to 20 cm, single flowers. Varieties:

• Potsdam giants (varietal series) - very large flowers of various colors, and the bush is small;
• Primlet (varietal series) – double flowers, color is varied;
• Danova (varietal series) - large-flowered varieties with flowers that almost cover the compact leaves;
• Bicolor (varietal series) - large two-color flower caps covering small leaves;
• Delight (varietal series) - large-sized flowers with a characteristic red rim around a yellow center;
• Blue zebra - flowers are striped, blue and white with a yellow throat.

Julia's section

Only one type has been identified - Primrose Julia and its hybrid primrose pruhonicka. Small plants (no higher than 10 cm) with oval, long-petioled leaves, single flowers up to 3 cm in diameter. The species blooms in April and pleases the eye for 3 months. Varieties:

• Sneeuwwitje – white flowers with lemon pharynx;
• Blue Julianas – lilac-blue flowers with a yellow center;
• Riga-6 – pink flowers with a yellow center;
• Wanda - crimson-violet flowers with a yellow throat.

As for the groups of primroses identified by flower growers, they are divided into types that differ in the location and shape of the inflorescences - spherical, cushion-shaped, umbrella-shaped, multi-tiered (candelabra) and bell-shaped. It is under these names that primroses can most often be found in flower shops.

This is the selection of varieties and types of primrose for open ground. And we, of course, described the smallest part of garden perennial primroses, but this information is quite enough to make a choice. The flower is also good because it is very easy to grow (read about this in the next article): its requirements are minimal. Except, of course, rare species and varieties - they need special care. The diversity of the plant allows it to be widely used in decorating areas.

Primrose is a flower from the primrose family. This perennial, blooming in early spring. More than 500 species of primroses are known, distributed in various areas: forests, plains, mountainous areas, the main condition for distribution is moist, humus-rich soil.

Popular varieties of perennial primrose

Hybrid varieties are often grown in gardens, and wild varieties are sometimes bred. The most common types are the following:

- grows in Crimea and the Caucasus. Flowers yellow color with a purple center, large, light green leaves, short trunk. Blooms at the end of April.

– the flowers are bright, with an orange center, the inflorescence is umbellate. It blooms for a month, from the end of April. The most common are hybrids with large, double flowers of different shades.

– loves partial shade. Varieties and its hybrids are grown, mostly two-colored. The inflorescence is umbellate, blooms in May-June, blooms for less than a month.

- hybrid of auricula. The flowers are large, beautiful, color from milky white to dark brown.

– the inflorescence looks like a ball, the flowers are lilac, pink, purple, dark purple, less often pure white. Blooms for a month in April. In the summer after flowering, it resembles a fern.

– flowers are pale yellow, with a dark center. Blooms in April-May, blooms for more than a month. High primrose has many hybrids of different colors.

Primrose cortusiformes– flowers are pink, light purple, collected in an umbellate inflorescence. The leaves are ovate, serrated, with hair. It blooms twice - in May and in August - September.

Primrose Julia- a miniature species with a height of only 10 cm. It blooms with pink-violet flowers in April and blooms until mid-May. This is one of the species that grows in open areas.

Planting and caring for primrose

When planting, perennial primrose requires compliance with several rules, the same applies to flower care.

Choosing a landing site

The right place for planting is the key to successful flowering and longevity of primrose. This plant prefers slightly shaded places that are well ventilated. You can plant them under fruit tree or a shrub on which leaves bloom late.

In places exposed to the sun, primrose in the garden feels uncomfortable. It blooms as usual, but by mid-summer its leaves dry out, and by autumn the plant weakens greatly and next year may not bloom.

Did you know? There is a legend about the origin of primrose. The Apostle Peter, having learned that the spirits excommunicated from heaven had forged the keys to the gates of heaven, dropped his bunch of keys. Flowers grew at the site of their fall. For a long time, primrose has been called Peter’s Keys.

Watering and fertilizing the soil

Before planting, you need to add humus or compost, mineral fertilizer to the soil and dig the soil to a depth of at least 30 cm. If you have loamy soil on your site, add sand to it.

It is important to know how to plant primroses correctly. Medium-sized species should be planted at a distance of 30 cm, larger ones - 40-50 cm. Watering is carried out regularly so that the soil is always moist. After watering, the soil needs to be loosened and mulched.

During development, primrose responds well to the introduction of bird droppings. During flowering, fertilizers for primrose are preferably made from potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen compounds. It is necessary to feed three times: in spring, at the beginning of summer and at the end.

Preparing plants for winter

Most garden primroses do not need to be replanted for the winter, but hybrid varieties are less frost-resistant. It is advisable to dig them up and put them away winter storage into the room.

Frost-resistant plants are prepared as follows: at the end of autumn, add humus under the bushes. This will protect the plant root system from frost. If there is not enough snowfall in your region, the primrose needs to be covered with spruce branches.

Important! You should not trim the leaves of the plant in the fall: leaves are the primrose’s natural protection from wind and frost. Pruning is recommended in early spring.

Primrose propagation options

Before propagating primrose, consider a couple of nuances. When propagated by seeds, wild flowers retain all their characteristics, and garden hybrids do not pass on their properties by inheritance using this method. That's why hybrid species Plants are best propagated vegetatively.

Seeds

Planting primrose seeds occurs in late autumn. Seeds are sown to a depth of half a centimeter in boxes or directly into the soil. On open ground can be sown in spring.

Seedlings with two or three leaves are planted at a distance of 15 cm. After some time, the grown plants are planted in a shady place for a permanent period.

The seedlings need regular watering.

Attention! Primulas grown from seeds grow much slower and require more care. This should be taken into account when starting seed propagation of primrose.

Cuttings

Let's figure out how to grow primrose cuttings. At the base of the root neck, separate the part of the shoot with the petiole, leaf and bud. The leaf blade is cut in half. The cuttings are planted in a prepared composition consisting of leaf soil and sand in equal parts.

Optimal conditions for rooting: temperature +17°C, good lighting, but without direct sunlight, moderately moist soil. As soon as three leaves appear, the primrose is transplanted into a pot with a diameter of 10 cm.

If you don’t know how to grow primrose at home as a flowerpot, use this method. The plant is planted in the garden with warming and the onset of conditions comfortable for primrose in open areas.

Dividing the bush

For division take an aged plant three years, not less. A well-grown bush produces up to six divisions; they should have well-developed roots and a couple of leaves. Separated sprouts are planted in early autumn before the first frost. In extreme heat, the divisions require additional daily watering.

Using primrose in landscape design

In every garden there is a free space that can be decorated with a colored carpet of primroses. To decorate flower beds, hybrid types of primroses are used: common primrose, spring primrose, auricular and fine-toothed. These varieties are distinguished by a variety of shapes and colors, and they bloom twice: in spring and summer.

Primrose polyanthus and tall are suitable for creating beautiful and lush borders. These plants have large, beautiful inflorescences, but they need to be planted in a place protected from direct sunlight, preferably on the north side of the garden. Otherwise, the flowering period will be shortened and the flowers will quickly lose their appearance.

If you have a pond on your property, you can plant a primrose fence around it. You need to choose varieties that love high humidity, for example, Sikkimese primrose.

Healing properties of primrose

Primrose contains a large amount of ascorbic acid and carotene, which makes it valuable during the period of vitamin deficiency. Raw primrose leaves are crumbled into salads, and dry leaves are added to soups and main courses as a seasoning. Just a couple of leaves can provide a person's daily intake of vitamin C.

The plant is used in folk medicine as an analgesic, diuretic, healing and anti-inflammatory agent. Primrose is used in the treatment of many diseases, such as.

Perennial primrose is a garden crop characterized by its diversity. beautiful flowers, unpretentious character and early flowering.

Due to the fact that the plant does not require special care and at the same time has outstanding aesthetic qualities, primrose has gained immense popularity not only among specialists landscape design, but also among ordinary amateur gardeners. And how many affectionate names people have come up with for this plant - these are keys, and talismans of happiness, and Easter flowers, and lambs.

Description of the perennial primrose flower

Primrose, or primrose, belongs to the Primrose family. This is crazy Beautiful perennial flower , blooming in early spring. IN wildlife There are more than 500 species of primrose, common in Asia, America and Europe.

There is a plant in forests, mountainous areas and plains on moist, humus-rich soil. Some rare species of primroses are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. These include bud-leaved primrose, Julia, Daryal, Berengia.

Advantages of primrose:

• pleasant aroma;
• early abundant and long flowering;
• variety of shapes and colors;
• winter hardiness;
• rapid reproduction;
• decorative foliage (until late autumn).

If you collect in your collection different types primrose - flowers will delight with their beauty from early spring until the end of summer. There are varieties that bloom twice a season - in spring and autumn.

Early primroses bloom in spring almost immediately after the snow melts. Flowering duration is until the end of May. Perennial primroses are used as decorative culture in any flower beds, borders, ridges, on alpine hills.

Their group plantings form a picturesque, very bright carpet. If you want a beautiful garden to appear on your windowsill in March, plant primrose in pots in the fall. The flower is also used to decorate flowerpots and containers.

Primrose - planting and care in open ground

Almost all types of primroses prefer fertile, humus-rich soils. Although primroses tolerate direct sunlight and drought, yet they grow and develop best at moderate humidity in light partial shade of trees.

Although the flower makes some demands on self-care, however, the plant cannot be called capricious. Moreover, among the variety of varieties there are also completely unpretentious varieties and hybrids. They do not amaze with their brightness, but their delicate color is noticeable from any corner of the garden.

For example, this is the large-cupped, spring, common primrose. These varieties will grow even in areas with a cool and fairly humid climate. The soil for planting must be good drained, nutritious and loose.

How does primrose reproduce?

Cuttings. Reproduction method root cuttings Suitable for most varieties of primrose. First, you need to make a longitudinal cut (up to 1.5 cm) on top of the root in order for buds to form.

Then plant the cuttings in light, loose soil, to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. Now you only need to provide traditional care for the flower.

Propagation by seeds. This method is considered less effective, since primrose seeds ripening in July-August before sowing (until spring) lose their viability by about 30%.

Therefore, it is better to sow them immediately after ripening in containers or in open ground. When sowing in autumn, seedlings will appear after 2-3 weeks, while in spring, seed germination will take much longer (up to 1 month).

If the flower is planned to be grown in a greenhouse, sowing is carried out in early February. Scatter the seeds on the surface of the soil (5 pieces per 1 cm are enough), lightly compact the soil and cover with film.

Seed germination can be accelerated by covering the crops with snow for two days. After emergence of shoots, the film should be opened slightly. Flowers protection must be provided from direct sunlight. After 1.5 weeks, the film can be removed completely, but it is very important to keep the soil moist.

Since primrose seedlings grow very slowly, you will have to be patient. In addition, before sowing primroses, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety: some should be germinated in the dark, others in the light.

After the formation of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings dive either immediately transplanted into open ground. The distance between plants is determined by the size of a particular variety and varies from 10 to 30 cm. It is necessary to calculate so that the rosettes of adult primroses do not touch each other. Young plants bloom 2-3 years after planting.

Dividing the bush- a good way to rejuvenate the plant, otherwise the primrose will begin to weaken and lose the splendor of flowering. It is better to carry out the procedure in the 3-5th year of the plant’s life, when the bushes have grown. This should be done immediately after flowering or in August.

First you need to water the area with the plant, then dig up the bush, and carefully shake off the roots from the ground, rinse them in water. Using a knife, divide the plant into several parts.

Be sure to leave a resume point! The cut should be covered with soil. To prevent the plot from drying out, it needs to be planted as soon as possible. In the next 2 weeks, the transplanted plants need regular watering.

Caring for perennial garden primrose

When caring for the plant, the following rules must be observed:

Primroses in landscape design

Garden primrose has a variety of species. And with a successful combination of different varieties, you will get a magnificent garden that blooms from April to August. The plant looks great in the garden and can be used for decorating rocky slides and corners, as well as plant variegated bushes on the lawn.

Small ones look great artificial reservoirs, near which fragrant Alpine and Sikkimese primroses grow. An unusual flavor will be given to the site by garden paths, along which a collection of bright multi-colored plants is placed.

Tulips, low irises, muscari, spiny phlox, daffodils and soapwort are suitable as “neighbors” of primrose. Primroses are often planted in garden containers and flowerpots. to decorate the surrounding area and at home.

Planting options

First option. The primrose will look good among sparsely planted peonies, which will pick up the baton of flowering from the primrose and hide its unattractive dried foliage.

Second option. Primroses do well (especially with plenty of moisture during dry periods) next to snapdragons on the north side alpine slide, where there is direct sun only at noon.

Third option. A large amount of snow that has accumulated near clematis over the winter will make the primrose very happy in the spring, so both of these plants complement each other well.

Fourth option. Just next to the sorrel, in the garden, in a bunch.

So that after all the work when planting and caring for primroses you are not disappointed, try to first study all the features of a particular species, since the requirements for different varieties may differ significantly.