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Varieties of primrose (photos and names of flowers for open ground). Diverse primroses: garden groups, species, varieties Primula perennial or annual plant

Primrose or primrose is a representative of the genus Primrose, growing mainly in Europe and Central Asia, as well as in the north of the African continent. Representatives of this genus have been cultivated for a very long time, and its number includes almost five hundred species.

Because the species and varietal diversity very large, then the stems, foliage and flowers also have their differences. There are both annual varieties and perennials.

Varieties and types

Or stemless although this plant has such a name, it is very beautiful. The lanceolate foliage is quite long and stays on the stem for a very long time. The flowers are white or pale yellow, placed on peduncles.

Flowers appearing in summer are painted in shades of scarlet and purple. An important feature is that at the end of flowering, the foliage of this species dies.

Mountain perennial view. It has slightly wrinkled foliage with small teeth along the edges. The flowers are small, yellow, form umbrella inflorescences. The peduncle can be both low and very high. Flowering occurs in mid-spring and lasts almost two months.

Or forest has oval oblong slightly wrinkled foliage up to 20 cm. Flowers are yellow with an orange spot, but there are many varieties whose color has the most various shades, and flowers are not only simple, but also terry.

Or auricle plant with dense, leathery, lanceolate foliage, bordered by small teeth. The color of the flowers depends on the variety, since a lot of hybrids have been created.

This species has tall bushes with long, belt-like leaves, as well as regular yellow flowers with large stamens.

fine-toothed primrose or just dentate it has spherical inflorescences, which consist of a large number of white, purple or lilac tones, the size of which varies, depending on the variety, from half a centimeter to two and a half.

It has not very large and attractive foliage, but its highlight is not in it. The flowers of this plant are painted in pastel yellow-pink tones, which over time flow from one to another.

The main difference of this species is the lilac inflorescence, which is located on a high peduncle. It has a spherical shape and does not look like inflorescences of other representatives.

Above the leaf rosette, consisting of light green jagged leaves and lying on the ground, flower stalks rise high, decorated with umbrella flowers of pale lilac or purple tones.

Primrose planting and care in the open field

disembarkation perennial species of this plant, obtained from seeds sown in pots, in open soil is carried out in spring or autumn, when the second year of their life comes. In the spring, planting is best done at the end of the season.

A site for landing is selected quiet, shaded. Only those species that are intended for rock gardens can be planted in the sun.

Small individuals need to be planted at about 15 cm between specimens, large ones - 25 cm. But do not make the gaps between the bushes too large, when they grow, they should fill the entire place between them.

Soil for garden primrose

Soil for culture should be selected breathable, lightweight, with drainage. Clay soils are a good option, but make sure they are not very heavy.

In this case, you can dig it up with sand, manure and sphagnum. Otherwise, the composition for garden plants of this genus is not particularly important, and the desired acidity is neutral or slightly acidic.

Primula watering

The area with the plant must be kept clean of weeds, and the soil should be regularly loosened so that the roots can breathe. This is usually done after watering.

The plant needs a sufficient amount of water, therefore, when watering it, use about 3 liters per square meter plot, and in hot weather even more.

Top dressing primrose in the spring

Also, primrose requires top dressing. This should be done using complex mineral supplements, but dissolving them twice as much as indicated on the package.

Phosphate-nitrogen fertilizers are used. Application mode once every 10 days from the appearance of foliage to flowering.

Primula transplant

Even caring for this culture involves transplanting it every 5 years. Along with this, it also reproduces by dividing the bush.

We will talk more about this process in the reproduction section.

Primrose pruning

In general, this plant does not need pruning, but it is a good idea to remove flower stalks after the flowers have withered. It is better to leave the foliage after flowering, also do not cut the leaves that appear in the fall, as they will serve as a shelter for the winter, if you cut the foliage, the bush will weaken.

Primrose after winter

In autumn, after flowering, the soil next to the plant is loosened and no longer touched until winter. With the advent of spring, the foliage that served as a shelter must be removed.

If it is very cold in your place of residence in winter, then the bushes will need to be additionally covered with dry foliage. If the winter is not very cold, then shelter may not be made, because the flower will have enough of its leaves for warming.

With the beginning of the snow melting, you need to be careful and, without delaying, break the ice crust over the flowers so that they can breathe, and the water can calmly leave, otherwise the shoots will rest.

Primrose from seeds

If you use seeds, it is best to sow them into the soil at the end of autumn.

To obtain seedlings, the material is sown in containers in the spring, in ordinary nutrient soil, having previously been stratified for a couple of weeks.

The sown is kept in a greenhouse, periodically aired and moistened, and after growing up, they are looked after like an ordinary plant. The following year, they land in open ground, described at the beginning of the last section.

Reproduction of primrose by dividing the bush

In addition to this method, the plant during transplantation is propagated by dividing the bush. For 4-5 years after planting, when the culture is old, they wait for the end of its flowering, then they take it out of the soil.

The roots are washed and divided so that each division has a leaf rosette. Cuts are sprinkled with ashes and after that the material is immediately planted in the soil. It is better not to delay transplanting and dividing until autumn, since new individuals may not have time to take root before the cold weather.

Primula propagation by cuttings

Another method of propagation is the use of root cuttings. To use it, thick roots are cut off, the top of which is slightly incised. After that, parts of the roots are planted about 3 cm and looked after as an adult plant.

If the rhizome or leaf rosette is not yet sufficiently developed or weak, then division is undesirable. In this case, axillary shoots are used for reproduction.

Primula reproduction by axillary shoots

Near the root, you need to remove the leaf with the petiole and part of the stem. The leaf is cut in half and after that the cutting is placed in leaf soil mixed with coarse sand.

In order for rooting to proceed well, the cutting must be kept in good light, without direct sunlight, and at a temperature of up to 19 ° C. When stalks with leaves form from the buds, the material can be transplanted into a separate container, and when it is warm enough outside, they can be planted in a flower bed.

Diseases and pests

Sometimes primrose is affected by diseases and pests, most often this happens due to improper care of the plant.

• A frequently asked question is poor seed germination . In general, the seeds germinate not so badly, they just lose their viability quickly, especially in hot conditions. Seed quality can also play a role. To increase germination, you can pre-soak the seeds.
• If primrose fades , then there may be several reasons for this, but most often the cause is stagnation of water in the roots, due to which they begin to rot, or the roots were burned by growth stimulants. It is better to cut off the diseased parts and transplant the bush to another area, and this one should be disinfected with a fungicide. Another reason could be lack of moisture.
• If primrose foliage dries and curls , then this is most likely due to juice-sucking pests such as aphids. Use insecticides to control them. Also, the leaves curl with insufficient watering.
• spider mite , also feeds on the juices of the plant and, in addition, it carries other diseases. To get rid of it, use acaricides.
• Weak stem growth And small leaves can be caused by pruning foliage after flowering.
• No flowering an infrequent case and usually occurs due to an excess of nitrogen fertilizers.
• Another enemy of primrose are slugs that feed on its foliage. To protect yourself from them, sprinkle around the area quicklime. Also, slugs do not tolerate any seasonings and dryness. In addition, you can use special preparations aimed at combating them.

Primula - gentle flowering plant from the primrose family. Its name can also be translated as "primrose". IN natural environment the flower is found on the slopes of the Alps, as well as in temperate climate Eurasia and North America. A cap delicate flowers on low shoots appears already in the middle of spring and lasts a very long time. Today, primrose is grown not only in the garden, but also at home as houseplant. There are many varieties with different flowering time and appearance. Florists know how to make this beauty bloom in right time, therefore, for the holidays, pots with colorful primroses appear in abundance.

plant description

Primrose - perennial, and occasionally annual herbaceous plant. It has a compact size. The height during the flowering period does not exceed 20-50 cm. The plant is nourished by a fibrous branched rhizome, which is located in the upper layers of the soil. Immediately above the surface of the earth, a dense leaf rosette is formed. It contains sessile or petiolate leaves of oval, lanceolate or ovoid shape. They are painted in a gray-green hue without a pattern. The surface of the leaf is smooth or embossed, swollen between the veins. Leaf margins are either entire or finely serrated. Due to the short pile, the foliage seems fluffy and soft.

A long bare peduncle grows from the center of the rosette. Its top is decorated with a dense brush or umbrella, although there are varieties with single flowers on short legs. Regular corollas consist of five oval-shaped petals with a rounded or, conversely, pointed edge. At the base, the petals fuse into a narrow, long tube, and sharply bend along the edge. The color of the flower is very diverse (monochrome or variegated) - white, purple, lilac, pink and red. The center is almost always yellow. Flowers replace each other within 3-8 weeks.

After pollination by insects, oblong seed pods with soft edges ripen. Inside contains small elongated seeds with a smooth dark brown or black surface.

Variety of primroses

A very diverse genus of primrose includes about 400 plant species. Conventionally, they are divided into 38 sections.

Common primrose (vulgaris) or stemless (acaulis). This species is especially popular with gardeners. Plant height is 5-20 cm. Oval leaves with a corrugated surface grow on short petioles. They have a bright green color without spraying and grow up to 25 cm long, up to 4 cm wide. Funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of 2-4 cm are distinguished by a variety of colors. They are grouped in a dense umbrella inflorescence and bloom in April-July.

The inhabitant of the alpine slopes grows denser, oval leaves with a smooth, shiny surface and a grayish coating. In the center of the leaf rosette there is a cylindrical stem up to 20 cm long with a dense spike-shaped inflorescence of 6-7 yellow fragrant flowers.

A rather large species up to 30 cm high grows wide oval leaves with a wrinkled surface and serrated sides. The length of the leaf reaches 20-40 cm. A dense spherical inflorescence about 10 cm in diameter blooms on a long stem. It consists of purple, lilac, red or white tubular flowers up to 15 mm in diameter. Flowering occurs in April-May and lasts up to 40 days.

Primula obconica (obconica). Herbaceous perennial with many round or oval leaves grows up to 60 cm in height. Wavy petiolate leaves in diameter reach 10 cm. A large umbrella of white, pink or purple flowers rises above them.

The plant forms tight socket openwork lobed leaves. Above them grow pubescent red-brown peduncles 30-35 cm long. Each bears only a few large (4 cm in diameter) flowers.

Perennial garden variety with elongated lanceolate leaves that form a symmetrical rosette. Peduncles 40-50 cm long contain several tiers of umbrella inflorescences, which are arranged in whorls. This species belongs to the group of candelabra primroses. The diameter of tubular flowers of various shades of red is 3 cm.

An inhabitant of the south of Europe grows wrinkled oval leaves with small teeth along the edges. The length of the leaves is 5-20 cm, and the width is 2-7 cm. Beautiful delicate flowers with a diameter of 2 cm have a light yellow color with a brighter center. They are grouped in an umbrella inflorescence of 5-15 units. The height of the peduncle is 10-35 cm. Flowering begins in April and lasts up to two months. Varieties:

• Primula colossea - larger flowers with crimson petals and a yellow star in the center;
• Duplex - dark yellow throat surrounded by bright cherry petals.

On the basis of species primroses, breeders have bred many varieties primrose terry. They differ big amount petals compared to normal. From a distance, the buds look like small roses with softer petals. The Rosanna variety is especially popular. Bushes about 15 cm high are covered with a dense cap of narrow flowers of white, apricot, yellow, pink and red.

Reproduction methods

Primula is grown from seeds, and also propagated by dividing the bush and leaf cuttings. It should be noted that when sowing harvested seeds, varietal properties, especially terry primroses, are not preserved. The seeds themselves quickly lose their germination capacity, so they are sown as early as possible.

Seedlings should be grown first. To do this, in mid-February, shallow boxes are prepared with a mixture of turf, sand and leaf ground. Small seeds try to distribute evenly on the surface. They are only slightly pressed into the ground. To preserve moisture, the container is covered with a film and placed in a freezer for 25-30 days. You can take the box outside. The air temperature during this period should be at -10°C.

After stratification, frozen seeds are transferred to a lighted window sill, to a room with a temperature of + 16 ... + 18 ° C. Shoots appear slowly and heterogeneously. When the seedlings reach the age of 2 weeks, the shelter is removed. Plants with 2-3 true leaves dive into another box with a greater distance. As it grows, a few more picks are carried out. For open ground primrose seedlings will be ready only after 2 years.

A bush aged 4-5 years is recommended to be divided into several parts. This allows not only to get more plants but also to rejuvenate the existing ones. Do it in August-September. Pre-plants are well watered, dug up and carefully freed from the ground. The roots are washed in warm water, and then the plants are cut into divisions with 1-2 growth points with a knife. Slices are treated with charcoal and flowers are immediately planted in a new place.

For cuttings, a leaf with a petiole and a bud at the base is used. It is rooted in a sandy-peat substrate. In this case, half of the sheet plate is immediately removed. It is necessary to keep the stalk in a warm (+16 ... + 18 ° C) room with bright but diffused light. The appearance of new kidneys indicates successful rooting. After that, the cuttings are transplanted into separate pots with soil for adult plants. In the spring they can be sent to the garden.

Landing Rules

Primrose is planted in open ground in spring or early autumn. Most plants have good frost resistance. In temperate climates and more southerly regions, they overwinter normally under leaf cover. The landing site should be sheltered from the wind and slightly shaded. Plants are placed near shrubs or under the light crown of garden trees.

The soil should be loose and nutritious, without stagnant water. Primrose develops best on loam. Before planting, the site is dug up and, if necessary, sand, manure, and crushed sphagnum moss are added. Depending on the height of a particular variety, the distance between plants is 10-30 cm.

Homemade primrose should be repotted annually after flowering. Overgrown bushes are divided into parts. As a result, the leaves will be brighter, and flowering more abundant. ground for indoor primroses are made up of peat, leaf and sod soil with the addition of river sand. A thick layer of drainage material must be laid out at the bottom of the pot.

Primrose care

With the right choice of place, caring for a primrose will not cause much trouble.

Lighting. Direct Sun rays the plant is contraindicated, burns quickly appear on it. It is better to keep it in shady places where the sun hits only in the early morning or at sunset.

Temperature. Optimum temperature air for primrose is + 16 ... + 22 ° C. Most of the time, flowers are kept outside or regularly ventilate the room. To bloom longer, you need to place the plants where the temperature is maintained + 12 ... + 15 ° C.

Humidity. Usually all types of primrose adapt well to natural humidity. However, they gratefully respond to periodic spraying. In too dry air, the edges of the leaves curl up and dry out.

Watering. The soil at the roots of primrose should always be slightly moist, but not waterlogged. It is better to water it often, but little by little. Water should be soft, well purified. At the end of flowering, irrigation is reduced.

Fertilizer. Several times during the season, plants are fed with a mineral complex with low content nitrogen. Start fertilizing in early spring. During the period of budding and flowering, top dressing is stopped and resumed only at the end of summer.

In landscape design

Thanks to the wide variety of colors, garden primrose allows you to create an amazing ornament on the site. Since flowering varies greatly in terms, you can pick up varieties that, replacing each other, will delight from April to August. Flowers are used to decorate a rabatka, an alpine hill, flower beds in the shade of trees, edging a border, shrubs, and a high bank of a reservoir. They look good in the neighborhood of muscari, tulips, daffodils, irises, phlox, soapwort. Some species with inflorescences on long stems are cut to make bouquets.

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 from early dates flowering: as soon as the snow melts, the first green leaves and buds appear. international scientific name received in 1762 and 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. 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.

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

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

There are three types of plants, which differ in color scheme 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. Primula vulgaris with 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 wild nature found in Ukraine (Carpathians), the European part of Russia and in the Crimea, Central and Western Asia, North Africa, Western regions of Europe.

Varieties of perennial primrose

A complete classification of Primrose species has yet to be drawn up, with most botanists considering there to be over 390 species. The most popular species for growing in perennial Primrose on summer cottages Russia.

Mainly on garden plots planted perennial primrose unpretentious varieties with photo:

• "Virginia" - white petals with a yellow center.
  
  
• "Alba" - small white flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a ball.
  
  
• "Lady Green" - flowers lemon color with two large teeth on the petals.
  
  
• "Francesca" - wavy light green petals, the middle is bright yellow.
  
  
• "Sunset Shades" - bright flowers red-yellow color.
  
  
• "Suzanne" - 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 from the southeast or north side 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 they are close The groundwater. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral, rich in organic fertilizers, easy. 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. hot way involves dousing the seeds with boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then the water is drained and slightly dried for paper towel. Stratification allows the seeds to wake up and sprout faster.

IN room conditions, most auspicious time sowing own seeds of perennial primrose - 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 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 seeds sown in autumn germinate faster, in 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, may turn into summer. 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, carefully cutting 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. warm water in the evening or morning.

If the soil is depleted, then the plant should be fed 3-4 times per season, complex fertilizers or organic. 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 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 winter dark place. 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) 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 primrose, you can grow an unusual flower bed.

The perennial garden primrose, one of the first to bloom in spring, attracts the attention of almost all flower lovers. It is part of the genus Primrose and the family of the same name. This family contains about 550 species.

The primrose flower grows both in the mountainous and lowland regions of Central and Western Asia, Europe, and also in America. About 60 species are used in floriculture, most of which are grown in open ground and only a small part in greenhouses. Primrose mainly grows in shaded and moist areas with loose soil. To understand how to care for primrose, you need to get acquainted with the plant itself.

Primula primrose is a perennial herbaceous plant that forms a rosette of leaves at the very base of the fibrous root. Primrose leaves can be lobed or entire. Leaves with a smooth or wrinkled surface are attached to the root with petioles, and may be sessile (without petioles).

The flowers of this culture have the most diverse colors, which can be monochromatic or two-color. Quite often there are species, varieties and hybrids with an eye. Flowers with a corolla, turning into a tube and a beautifully colored limb, resemble a funnel in their shape. They are collected in inflorescences various types(bellflower, umbrella, capitate), but sometimes the flowers are arranged one at a time, although this is quite rare.

The shoots on which the inflorescences or flowers are located do not have leaves. Primrose usually blooms in April, but the flowering time depends on the type of primrose. Some plants bloom in early spring, and some in early summer. Small brownish seeds, resembling irregular balls in shape, ripen in a fruit - a box. Ripening time is June-July. One gram of seeds contains approximately 1000-1200 pieces. Reproduction of primrose can occur through seeds, as well as through dividing the bush and cuttings. On the street, primrose grows without a transplant for three to five years.

Most often, primroses are classified according to the type of inflorescences and flowers on plants. All primroses (including varieties and hybrids) are divided into 5 groups.

• The first group (cushion-shaped inflorescences) includes plants in which flowers are located one at a time, less often in inflorescences. They are slightly raised above the rosette of leaves. The main species of this group are the Julia primrose and its hybrids with other species. They are known by various species names: common or stemless primrose, small primrose. The predominant part of varieties and hybrids on sale are created on the basis of stemless primrose. A huge variety of colors and sizes of flowers attracts a lot of attention to this culture. Planting and caring for perennial primroses of this group do not require a lot of time.

Primrose ordinary or stemless

• In the second group (umbrella-shaped inflorescences), the flowers of plants are collected in inflorescences of the round or slightly inclined umbrella type. They are located on the peduncle, at a height of about 20 cm above the bush. The main species of this group include spring primrose, high primrose, ear primrose, polyanthus, mealy, Vialya and others. On sale you can find various varieties high primrose, p. spring and p. polyanthus, as well as primrose Vial.

Primula high
Primula Vialya

• The third group includes plants with a dense spherical shape of inflorescences, which are formed on a powerful peduncle. This group includes fine-toothed primrose, etc. Its flowers are painted in pink, white, red-carmine and brown-violet shades. Modern varieties of finely toothed primrose are distinguished by interesting and spectacular colors.

Primula finely toothed

• The fourth group includes plants with whorled inflorescences, consisting of several tiers. Such inflorescences bloom on the tops of thin, stable flower-bearing shoots. The most important types of this group are: primrose Bulley, p. Japanese, p. Byss and garden hybrids of this primrose from p. Bulley. Japanese primrose varieties with candelabra inflorescences look especially beautiful. They are rarely on sale.

Primula Bullea
Japanese primrose

florinda primrose

• The last group with bell-shaped inflorescences includes species with drooping inflorescences or hanging flowers, blooming on flower shoots of various heights. This group includes the following species: alpine primrose, n. Sikkim, n. Florindy. Care for primroses in the garden, belonging to this group, is slightly different from other species.

Growing from seeds

Growing primrose from seeds requires some knowledge, so it's worth knowing its biological features. Firstly, they belong to slow-growing plants, seed germination can vary from 90 to 60%.

Secondly, the seeds of this crop quickly lose their germination capacity, and therefore they must be used in the year of harvest, but this will work out if the sowing is carried out in open ground in summer or autumn. With this option of sowing, young plants will bloom only in the third year of cultivation. It is desirable to store seeds at a temperature of 5 to 7 degrees (vegetable section of the refrigerator) and a humidity of 22 to 30%.

But it is possible to get finished plants in the year of sowing and even achieve their flowering. Primrose from seeds is grown from 20 to 24 weeks from sowing to the beginning of flowering. To correctly determine the time of sowing seeds, you need to understand exactly what you want to get at the end. If well-grown plants are required for enough a short time, then sow should be in late January - early February. These young plants will be planted outdoors after the end of frost, and they will bloom next spring.

For getting finished products in bloom, early-flowering varieties and hybrids are chosen.

For sowing, loose, breathable soil with a slightly acidic reaction (pH 5.5 -6.2) is required. Low containers or pots are filled with well-moistened soil and leveled. Seeds are sown on the surface, covered with film or glass and placed in freezer for a period of about a month. After that, the seeds are germinated at a temperature of 17-18 degrees, which does not change during the day. Seeds of common primrose and finely serrated do not need to be frozen.

Seeds do not need light to germinate, but low light helps simultaneous germination. This period lasts from 7 to 20 days, depending on the type, variety and quality of the seeds. As soon as 50 percent of all seeds hatch, the shelter is removed. It is worth remembering that during the period of seed germination, temperature and humidity changes should not be allowed.

At the next stage of cultivation, which lasts a little more than two weeks, the seedlings are moved to a sufficiently lit place (without sun), the temperature is lowered to 16-17 degrees, and the amount of moisture in the soil is reduced (without drying out). An increase in temperature above 18 degrees slows down the growth of seedlings. It is advisable at this time to carry out top dressing with a weak solution of complex fertilizers.

In the next 35-50 days, the illumination of growing plants is increased, the temperature is maintained at 15-16 degrees and fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers.

As soon as 3 leaves appear on the plants, they dive into plastic cups (3 to 5 cm in diameter), from which they are then transferred to larger containers. Bushes are transferred into pots with a diameter of 9-11 cm at the age of 9-11 weeks. Transplanted primroses are arranged so that they do not touch the leaves. As soon as the plants take root and begin to grow intensively, they can be planted in open ground (after the end of frost).

To obtain flowering primroses, a cooling period is carried out, lasting from 6 to 8 weeks. Plants aged 9-11 weeks with a well-developed rosette of leaves (from 6 to 8 pieces) are kept at a temperature that drops from 12-15 to 7-5 degrees. At this time, the illumination should be high. As soon as formed buds appear on the bushes, the temperature is increased to 15-17 degrees and primroses bloom.

Care

Primrose care is simple, provided that the planting site is selected taking into account the requirements of this plant. Primrose should be planted in shady places with well-moistened, loose and nutrient soil. Before planting, the beds are dug up to a depth of 20 to 30 cm and leaf humus and soddy soil are necessarily added. When planting a primrose and caring for it in the open field, you need to know a few nuances.

Primrose seedlings should be planted in such a way that there is no open land between adult bushes. Small species are placed after 10-15 cm, and large varieties and hybrids - after 30-40 cm. Even in a flowering state, plants tolerate transplantation quite well. After planting, the bushes are watered every day for two weeks.

To maintain a constant level of soil moisture, it is desirable to mulch the soil. leaf humus or peat soil about 4-5 cm high.

Caring for a perennial primrose in the garden consists of regular watering throughout the growing season and spring dressings complex fertilizers, which are carried out before and during flowering.

Overgrown bushes are usually divided into 3-5 years of cultivation. They are dug up, the roots are cleaned of soil (it is better to wash in water), divided into several parts, and then planted in a garden bed in a shaded place.

Diseases and pests

This culture can suffer from rust, root collar and stem base rot, spotting, anthracnose, viral diseases, and powdery mildew.

: "Kvadris", "Topsin M", "Topaz". Copper-containing preparations will help from spotting. Viral diseases are not treated and the affected plant will have to be destroyed.

Of the pests on the primrose, slugs are found, spider mite, aphids, mealybug, weevils and flea beetles.

From slugs, the drug "Thunderstorm" will help, and from other pests - the appropriate insecticide.

Primroses in landscape design

Beautiful primroses are used in the design of perennial flower beds, in spring compositions with bulbous and small bulbous crops. Various kinds and varieties of this culture adorn rabatki, alpine slides and rockeries. This plant is perfect for decorating small ponds, portable containers and vases, as well as balcony boxes.

For rock gardens and alpine slides cushion-shaped primroses are suitable, as well as all varieties of fine-toothed primrose. In addition, fine-toothed primrose is quite often used in plantings with a variety of perennials. Primula Julia is irreplaceable plant to decorate the edge of the border or garden path. When creating a garden in Japanese style use primroses with a candelabra form of inflorescence. Care for primrose in flower arrangements will not cause much trouble.