There are now more than 3000 varieties registered in England, some of them derived from Primula x pubescens (which is a hybrid of P. auricula, found in alpine parts of Austria and Switzerland. They are all descended from a yellow-flowered wild variety, P. In every auricula, individual flowers (pips) are bunched in an umbel at the top of a straight stem. Because rain can damage the flowers, causing the paste to run into the flower colour, it became commonplace to protect prized plants from the weather, and thus the auricula theatre was born. The main colour can have lighter streaks and this subgroup ("stripes") is among the most sought-after by British exhibitors. They are distinguished by an enamel-like centre, known as paste, and green or white edging. Show specimens are the fourth group and this is where the greatest variation occurs. Doubles are now regaining their popularity, in part thanks to people like the late Florence Bellis, of Barnhaven fame, who bred them alongside her famous primroses. The other clue is that border varieties may be a single colour, lacking the shading of the alpines.ĭoubles have been around since the 17th century but fell out of favour after 1750, when show auriculas began hogging the limelight. Used for general garden planting and showing, many look very like alpine auriculas but farina is usually clearly visible on border kinds. The common name comes from the dusty look of farina or meal on leaves and flowers, although this is absent from the alpine auriculas, one of the four groups into which the plants are classified.Īlpine auriculas have gold or cream centres and the flower colour starts dark at the centre, shading out to a lighter colour on the outer edge, giving a tricolour effect. A Victorian favourite, dusty millers are still popular, says Gillian Vine.Īdored by Victorian gardeners, who built special theatres in which to display them, dusty miller ( Primula auricula) is a sweetly perfumed member of the family that includes polyanthus, cowslip and primrose.
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