Primula (Primrose)
My goal is to provide a visual reference of perennials commonly available from Glacier City Gardener. You can email me if you see something that you are interested in purchasing and I can make sure to bring it with me to the Spenard Market on Saturdays. For larger orders, I can deliver to Anchorage or, if you like, you can stop by my greenhouse in Girdwood. I plan to have my Girdwood garden open several Sundays this spring for people to visit and purchase plants. See events for exact dates and times. Plants are also available in Girdwood by appointment.
All of my primula are grown here in Girdwood, Alaska from seed.
I have more primrose for sale than are pictured here, I just haven't taken a good photo of them yet. I am also adding to my inventory every year so if you are looking for something you don't see here ask me, I just might have it.
The price for a 3.5" pot is $6.50 and a 5" x 5" is $16.00
Happy Gardening,
Robbie
All of my primula are grown here in Girdwood, Alaska from seed.
I have more primrose for sale than are pictured here, I just haven't taken a good photo of them yet. I am also adding to my inventory every year so if you are looking for something you don't see here ask me, I just might have it.
The price for a 3.5" pot is $6.50 and a 5" x 5" is $16.00
Happy Gardening,
Robbie
Primula Alpicola Violacea
Plant 12"-18" on center in moisture retentive soil. Blooms in late June to early July here in South Central Alaska. Flowers may reach a height of 16" or more. Easy to grow and long lived. Can form nice clump in a couple of seasons. Fragrant 
Primula Beesiana
One of my favorite of the candelabra type of primula. May have up to 6 or 7 whorls of flowers reaching 30 inches tall. Each whorl seems to last a week, making for a long bloom time. These are large plants, like Bulleyana they need at least an 18" space. They are easy to grow in moisture retentive soil and will make an impressive clump in a few years. 
Primula Chionantha
Well worth growing but I do not have enough experience with it to comment. Here's what I know. I have overwintered it in both 3.5" and 5" pots just fine. Killed it in some garden locations?? Reference only 
Primula Auricula
A very adaptable primula. From garden soil to rock garden, Full sun to partial shade,it never fails to perform. Spring bloomer, very hardy. 
P. Cowichan 'Garnet'
Late spring blooming polyanthus x Unlike big box store polyanthus, these are bred for there garden vigor. Foliage may have a bronze cast to it. 
Primula Denticulata
Colors range from red to lilac and white. Blooming in spring, combines well with tulips. If I only had two primrose this would be one, Florindae the other. Allow a lot of space, by late summer, leaves may span 18" in circumference. 
Primula Flaccida
Slow growing in my garden but will make a nice clump over time. Shorter lived primula and not the most reliable but well worth trying. Much more reliable than Capitata which I have no luck at all with. Fragrant, blooming in early to mid July. Seems to be hit and miss around anchorage for hardiness. Reference only 
Primula Jack in the Green
A novelty primrose that has a collar of green leaves surrounding the flower. Place in the front of the boarder where you can show it off to your gardening friends. Dawn Ansell is a well known double, white form of this theme. I normally have this in mixed colors. 
Primula Juliae
Juliae is one of the parent plants which is crossed to form Primula Julianas, Wanda's, Cowichans and many cultivars. Very hardy. 
Primula Sieboldii
Seen here is a frilly, pink form of sieboldii. I should have a frilly white and frilly blue sieboldii also. Spreading by rhizome, Sieboldii can make a nice clump in a few years. Don't be fooled by delicate looks, it is very tough. 
Primula Veris Hose and Hose
This is a seedling from 2014, my first year growing Veris Hose and Hose. If it is like Veris 'Sunset Shades' it will be a wonderfull, hardy addition to our gardens. Another gem for the front of the boarder to show off to friends. |
Primula Alpicola Alba
Plant 12"-18" on center in moisture retentive soil. Blooms in late June to early July here in South Central Alaska. Flowers may reach a height of 16" or more. Easy to grow, long lived, can be fragrant. 
Primula Bulleyana
Large, candelabra primula. Plant 18" on center, or more, in moisture retentive soil. Flowers grow in whorls around stem. When in its happy space you may have up to seven tiers. 
Primula Bullesiana
Shown here, Primula Bullesiana, comes in a range of colors. Pinks, Orange, Yellow and rose. As with all of the candleabra primula they are large plants with blooms reaching 30" tall. These are mid season bloomers. (End of June through July) 
Primula Laced
Certainly not show Quality. Fun addition to the spring garden. I try to sell only the ones that are in bloom so you won't be disappointed and can see exactly what you are getting. 
Cowichan Yellow
Yellow flowers framed on top of bronze foliage. Late spring blooming. (Early June) I may have blue and red color Cowichans also, depending on how well they wintered over. 
Primula Doubles
Very limited availability. Only a very few seeds planted turn out to be doubles. Over time I will be dividing my collection. Until then I will only be offering duplicates of those I all ready have. Reference only 
Primula Florindae
Pictured in the garden setting you can see how large these plants can get. They can reach 30" tall and form a 2' clump with very fragrant blooms. Normally yellow, they can hybridize and have shades of red and orange, as pictured here. 
Primula Japonica "Millers Crimson"
I have planted this 360 around Hotel Alyeska, an eight story building.It grew happily everywhere and will even self seed along a drip line. Allow some self seeding and you will have it for a long time. I also have 'Potsford White' & 'Apple Blossom' (pink) 
Primula Juliana "Fireflies"
This is 0ne of about three Julianas I regularly have in my inventory. Late spring blooming or early June blooming. 
Primula Sieboldii
Here are the other two selections I have. You may want to keep the plant tag to mark the location of this primrose. It is the first to loose its leaves in summer and slow in the spring to leaf out again. 
Primula Veris 'Sunset shades'
I planted a flat of these over 10 years ago at Alyeska Resort which have grown into huge drifts and have been divided multiple times. They provide a great color echo for tulips in the spring. |
Primula Vulgaris
Seen here in a 3.5" pot wintered over from 2013. How can you not love this flower? It is the quintessential English cottage garden primrose. In addition to white I should have shades of pink, yellow and blue. |
Primula Yargonensis Small spoon shaped leaves with flowers on 10" stems. It has been hardy everywhere I have planted it. Slightly slower to emerge in the spring. You will want to leave a plant tag marking its location.
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More Primula
In addition to the above primula here is a list of what I expect to have in the 2016 season. Some of that expectation is based on plants surviving the winter in pots, which can be iffy.
The list
Primula Chungensis Primula Cockbruniana Primula Laurentiana Primula Waltonii
Reference Only Plants marked reference only are no longer available. Some are not reliably hardy or hard to grow in our climate but worth a try if you can find seed.
The list
Primula Chungensis Primula Cockbruniana Primula Laurentiana Primula Waltonii
Reference Only Plants marked reference only are no longer available. Some are not reliably hardy or hard to grow in our climate but worth a try if you can find seed.