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Primula rosea is one of the common species in the trade, and remarkably uncommon in gardens.
I think the reason is that it isn't easy, or more accurately it is particular. It comes from the north west Himalayas and grows in damp and wet meadows. In cultivation it needs very wet soil and although it is usually sold as an 'alpine' it really needs bog conditions. I struggled with it until I got fed up and dumped it in the trays with the Sarracenia, at which point I finally started to believe all the advice I have been given over the years to keep it wet. It has very bright pink flowers, but the exact shade and size varies. In theory 'Delight' is a seed selection from 'Grandiflora' but over the years it has become more random and less selected (which is a nice way of saying you could get almost anything under this name). John Richards says of the species: "North-west and west Himalaya, from east Afghanistan, through northern Pakistan to Kashmir and Gharwal. 'Fairly commnon and gregarious in alpine pastures, by melting snow from 2600-4360m, where boggy or peaty conditions prevail'. This superb garden plant is justly one of the most popular of all primulas in cultivation. [...] Characteristically the flowers open as soon as the stem bursts through the ground, set amongst the reddish bud scales, before the leaves expand, " Of the cultivar 'Delight' he adds: " while 'Micia Visser de Geer' (AGM 1969), sometimes known as 'Delight', is dwarf at first with almost carmine flowers." Luit van Delft, writing on the Scottish Rock Garden Forum (10th May 2014) said: "The Primula rosea Micia Visser de Geer was probably named by Ruys (Moerheim) in honour of the woman of noble birth, Jenny Micheline de Geer (1907-1966), who was married in 1929 with Mr. W. A. J. Visser ( 1904-1975). Mr. Visser was major of the village Avereest from 1931- 1937, a village close to Dedemsvaart, the place where the Moerheim nursery was. Later he became the major of the Dutch city The Hague. Her pet name was Mitsia, (for the plant trade in Holland “Micia” sounds easier). The founder of the Moerheim nursery, Bonne Ruys, did have many important connections in Holland, England, Scandinavia and Germany, so it is a good possibility that this is the right story? The plant must have been very special and had very large flowers of one inch in diameter." |
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| 26th April 2013 | ||
