code: 652
whilst the leaves stay perfectly green
Family: Primulaceae
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Maximum Height: 30 cm
Packet Content(approx.): 20
Pink, white-eyed flowers open on thin stems, which have some farina at the top, whilst the leaves stay perfectly green. Originally from altitudes up to 3000-5000m in China, Kansu, Sichuan, and Tibet, these rare “little gems” thrive best in moist, peaty soils, where they quickly form clumps, which should be divided frequently.
Sowing advice:
Primula seeds may be sown at any time onto a loam-based compost, barely cover so that around 50% are still visible. Best germination temperatures are between 10 and 15 degrees C. (e.g. a cool, northerly window sill) PLEASE NOTE: Temperatures exceeding 15 C can prevent germination, and above 20 C expect very little germination as most seeds will go dormant as a protective measure. Germination takes between 3 to 6 weeks, sometimes taking much longer.
Self sight:
Ever wondered about the farina that many Primula species develop on the leaves, stems, buds, flowers?
I haven’t until I started to observe the tiny seedlings of P. gemmifera var. amoena (syn. Primula zambalensis) starting to get covered with the white ‘stuff’. Being the only Primula I grew this year from seeds, maybe I looked more often at it.
Of course, others have preoccupied themselves with the subject a long ago. It seems that about half of the Primula species bear minute glandular hairs (see in the image the small dots on the leaves) which secrete the white (or yellow) powder called ‘farina’. It is actually a wax-like material mixed with flavonoids, in most cases. It has taxonomic significance and it was used to define sections in the genus Primula, but otherwise it is considered of no use to the plants being in fact just a ‘waste’ product eliminated from the plant cells through the secretory hairs. Looking at it from the gardener’s perspective it is of great use though – think about how much it enhances the beauty of all farinose Primula species! Next year I hope to show the flowers of this Primula which grows on stony moist slopes of NW Yunnan and SW Sichuan; they are said to be lilac- blue and deliciously scented!
