Iris, Hedera, Jovibarba, Kniphofia - 1, Kniphofia - 2,
Large leaved perennials, Pelargonium x domesticum, Grasses, Primula, Seeds,
Sempervivum, Viola, Western Natives, Shrubs & Trees, Additional Plants
The primroses listed here are mostly the evergreen, succulent auriculas. The scent of an auricula (a-ri-cu-la) is more in the foliage than in the flowers. And it is more of a spiciness than a sweetly floral perfume. We enjoy it very much. It is a bit unusual, and is evident even when a plant is not in flower.
American Beauty'American Beauty' has a large white eye and bright red petals. As with the other auricula primroses, its leaves are evergreen and succulent. Auriculas are very cold-hardy. We leave our potted auriculas outside all winter without any protection. Flowers come during the month of April, and plants will reliably rebloom again in September and October if they have been given some light fertilizer during the summer.
Andrea Julie(auricula) The petals are often a two-tone dark red with the edges slightly lighter. Flowers have a large, yellow eye. Auriculas like to dry out considerably between waterings. We grow ours in a good standard potting mix, and are careful with our watering. Other growers often mix in a lot of grit or perlite into their potting soil to enhance the drainage.
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Arundel(auricula) The petals are striped in dark red, light green and cream, and the eyes are creamy. We are, and have been growing auriculas from seed. The second photo is a close-up of young auriculas photographed on 11-21-05, from seeds sown two months earlier in September. The seedlings will be grown on to flower for the first time in 2007. Further down this list are a few pictures of auriculas grown from seed some years ago that are being propagated by division, and that will be made available in future years.
Chehalis Blue(auricula) A beautiful mid blue surrounds an eye of cream in 'Chehalis Blue.' This plant is named for the nursery in Chehalis, Washington where Herb Dickson expertly grew many choice primroses.
Osbourne Green(auricula) The flower shape of 'Osbourne Green' is different than the other of these auriculas. The petals do not spread so widely, but only slightly flare out, giving a more closed funnel shape. The eye of a flower is creamy yellow and the small petals are a dark maroonish red and green. The edges of the petals, rather than being smooth-edged are a bit ragged. A Victorian antique thought lost, but rediscovered growing in an old cottage garden in Ireland in 1983.
Parakeet(auricula) There is often more yellow to 'Parakeet' than illustrated in the photo. The other colors are green and cream. This plant grows large and is robust.
RN-25(auricula) A pure white eye is surrounded by petals of dark red and green. One of the most vigorous of the “fancy” auriculas.
Trudy(auricula) The eye of the flower is pure white and the petals are dark red. 'Trudy' has leaves that are more grayish than the other dark red auriculas.
marginata 'Herb Dickson'(marginata) The flowers are violet and the leaves have toothed edges.They grow similarly as the auriculas, with evergreen, succulent leaves, and like to dry out well between waterings.
double blue - Blue Sapphire(vulgaris) The leaves are low and partially evergreen. The flowers begin to appear in early spring. For us they start in late Februry and continue on well into summer. When planted in just the right spot they can flower here year around. They would prefer a rich soil, light shade and slightly more moisture than average when they can get it, however will grow well in full sun and with less than perfect conditions. 'Blue Sapphire' has fully double flowers, two or three per stalk, of a rich, dark blue that are often thinly rimmed in silver. They are favorite food for slugs and deer.
Rosie - semi-doubles in mixed colors(acaulis) Although we grow a lot of acaulis type of primroses, they usually sell out by the middle of March. The seeds are sown in July and August, potted-up by us during the month of October, and carried over winter in an unheated greenhouse. So these are not forced into flower as they might be at other nurseries . 'Rosie' is a new strain of seed-grown plants in a range of colors. The flowers are semi-double and often nicely ruffled. Some will be a lovely two-tone, for instance a white flower edged in lavender, or a lemon edged in rose.
A seedling with large dark red flowers having white eyes.
Amber-gold plants grown from seed over ten years ago, and since then vegetatively propagated by dividing the plants. The leaves are a beautiful grayish-green.
Lavender flowers with creamy eyes. The flowers can have a darker ring of lavender at the outer edge of the eyes.
Large flowers of cream.
Similar to the coloring of 'Chehalis Blue,' but a lighter blue, with a white eye.
Medium sized flowers of so dark a red as to appear black. The white eyes contrast well against the darkness.
Royal purple flowers are very profuse. The eyes are white.
This is another auricula that's been growing here for over ten years, with a flower speckled a light violet that bleeds into a creamy center. There is a soft touch of yellow deeper in the throat.
