 |
An old variety, I have grown it in the garden several times from several sources and it lasts well but gives up after afew years if it is not divided and moved about. Barnhaven Primroses say; "We are pleased to be able to offer this very old named variety. It has purplish-bronze leaves and umbels of pink yellow-eyed flowers. The whole plant has a magical shimmery quality to it. Polyanthus form. It was apparently raised at Kinlough, County Leitrim in Ireland by Mrs Johnson but it's real origins are a bit bit of a mystery. " Peter Ward wrote: "'As well as being the home of a number of P. juliae hybrids, Ireland is also the origin of the interesting 'Garryarde' primroses, which were mostly of mixed primrose/polyanthus habit. They are descended from a sport of the wild primrose that arose in the garden of Mr Whiteside-Dane in County Kildare around 1900. Named 'Apple Blossom', this plant was distinguished by its bronze coloured leaves, a feature that it bequeathed to all of its offspring, most of which also had pink and white flowers, although bronze-leaved plants with red flowers, and also white, were later introduced. 'Apple Blossom' is considered to have been either a mutation of P. vulgaris or a hybrid with a red primrose. One of the earliest and most famous of its offspring is 'Guinevere' (syn. 'Garryarde Guinevere'), a plant that, through micropropagation, is commonly available today. Few, if any, of the other Garryardes survive, although 'Enchantress', one of the best, may still grow ina few gardens.' |
|
| 3rd May 2018 | ||
