Many Impressive Primulas Can Be Grown From Seed

Primula "Dark Rosaleen" emerging from the winter cover of maple leaves. Since these flower on the early side the leaves are left in place if an early freeze threatens the plants can be easily recovered. Note that each set of flowers emerges from their own crown. This single plant can later be divided into three plants, which will flower the following year. ANDREW MESSINGER

The first flowers from White Flower Farm's "dark shades" primula. The one on the right was selected for its color and over the years has been divided into a dozen plants and each it an identical clone of the "bluest" parent. ANDREW MESSINGER

Primula "gold lace" often flowers at the same time as Anemone blanda (lower left). Both of these will flower around mid-May on the East End. ANDREW MESSINGER

Primula veris "gold lace" not only caught my eye but is a great performer. This 3-year-old mass of plants is ready for division (after flowering) and will result in dozens of new plants. ANDREW MESSINGER

Primula "Miller’s Crimson" just past its peak bloom in mid-May. These are not allowed to go to seed but you can see how some seed has dropped along the stone pathway allowing the planting to "leak." The Dicentra (bleeding heart) behind the primula is the species spectabilis, whose seed can also run rampant in the garden. Both of these plants are early favorites for hummingbirds. ANDREW MESSINGER

Primula seed is tiny as are the seedlings. These seedling are about 10 days old and will be ready for potting in another 10 days then planted in the garden about six weeks later. ANDREW MESSINGER

Looking down on this primula plant you can see several plants emerging from the crown. Each one of these offsets from the parent (larger leaves) can be separated from the crown and transplanted. Note the spent flower stalk in the center. This was taken in June and a perfect time to do the divisions. ANDREW MESSINGER

The four parent plants were lifted and divided into 25 new plants. The planting that once covered only two square feet now will cover 16 square feet. The cost? Only the original four plants. Most primulas can be divided every two to three. ANDREW MESSINGER