Read on below to discover more about these most attractive plants.
The various types of auriculas have traditionally been divided into groups -there are four groups called “Show”, “Alpine”, “Double” and finally the “Border” types which are those more usually grown outside in the ground. The “Show” and “Alpine” types have further sub-categories as follows:
Show auriculas – Edged, Self, Striped and Fancy
Alpine auriculas – Fancy, Laced, Gold Centred and Light Centred
The “Show” types – such as ‘Joel’ above – are those that have, round the centre of the flower a zone that looks “mealy” – this meal is called “paste” and appears rather granular. There may also be meal on the leaves. Here is another example of a “Show” type:
Primula auricula ‘Greensleves’ – one of the green edged show auriculas
The “Alpine” types do not possess any meal, either on the flower or the leaves, though they still, have a central circle of colour – usually white or yellow – surrounded by petals of a different colour. The petals are usually paler at the edges and shade to dark at the base next to the central circle.
Primula auricula ‘Harry Hotspur’ – one of the “Alpine” types
The “Double” types are self-explanatory and here is an example:
Primula auricula ‘Cinnamon’
See more at the Wisley Alpine Log
