fairy primrose
| Dictionary: fairy primrose |
n.
A Chinese ornamental (Primula malcoides) grown for its large, rose to pink flowers grouped in many-flowered umbels.
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| Annuals Dictionary: Primula |
Primrose family
Primulaceae
Prim'you-la. Primrose . A large genus of over 400 species of low-growing, herbaceous plants of the northern hemisphere, found mostly in alpine and cool localities.
Description
Stems short or none. Leaves crowded, stalked, long and narrow, or roundish or tufted, the midrib generally prominent on underside. Flowers on leafless stalks, sometimes with leafy bracts, solitary, or in loose umbels, in whorled tiers, or in rounded heads. Flowers yellow, white, red, blue, pink, or purple. Calyx of 5 sepals, joined halfway, usually slightly inflated, generally pale green. Corolla of 5 lobes, tubular at the base. Stamens 5, not protruding.
How to Grow
After refrigerating them for 3 weeks, sow fresh seeds indoors in fall for spring flowers. Transplant seedlings to progressively larger pots. Plant out after spring frost. Seedlings can also winter in protected cold frames. In low elevations of Calif., direct seed in fall. All species prefer cool weather.
Primula malacoides
Fairy Primrose
. 4-18 in. (10-45 cm) high. Flowers lilac or pink, to in. (13 mm) wide, in several whorls on each stalk. China. 'Alba' has white flowers, 'Rosea' bright rose-colored flowers. In low elevations of Calif., will bloom in winter and early spring. In northern and coastal gardens, blooms in summer. Perennial grown as a half-hardy annual.
Primula obconica
German Primrose
. To 12 in. (30 cm) high. Flowers lilac, pink, red, and white, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, in many-flowered umbels. China. Many good cultivars. Same blooming times as
P. malacoides
. Leaves can cause mild skin irritation. Perennial grown as a half-hardy annual.
Primula - polyantha
Polyanthus
. To 12 in. (30 cm) high. Flowers 1-2 in. (4-5 cm) wide, purple, blue, rose, yellow, white, or scarlet, in profuse clusters. Blooms in spring. Hybrids derived from
P. elatior, P. veris
, and
P. vulgaris
. The easiest primrose to grow. Perennial treated as a hardy annual.
| Gardener's Dictionary: Primula |
| Word Tutor: primula |
IN BRIEF: n. - Any of numerous short-stemmed plants of a particular genus having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads.
| Wikipedia: Primula |
For other uses, see Primula (disambiguation).
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 Primula vulgaris
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many; see text |
Primula (pronounced /ˈprɪmjʊlə/)[1] is a genus of 400–500 species of low-growing herbs in the family Primulaceae. They include primrose, auricula, cowslip and oxlip. Many species are grown for their ornamental flowers. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia and New Guinea, and in temperate southern South America.
Perennial primulas bloom mostly during the spring; their flowers can be purple, yellow, red, pink, or white. Generally, they prefer filtered sunlight. Many species are adapted to alpine climates.
The word primula is the Latin feminine diminutive of primus, meaning first (prime), applied to flowers that are among the first to open in spring.
Primroses are used as food plants by the larvae (caterpillars) of some Lepidoptera species, including Duke of Burgundy butterfly, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Silver-ground Carpet.
Some flowering forms of (cultivated) Primula are commonly known as polyanthus (P. elatior hybrids) as opposite to primrose (P.vulgaris hybrids).
Contents |
Classification
The genus Dodecatheon originated from within Primula, so some authorities include the 14 species of Dodecatheon in Primula.[2]
Selected species
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References
- ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
- ^ Alan S. Weakley (April 2008). "Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas". http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm.
External links
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Annuals Dictionary. Taylor's Guide for Annuals, by Norman Taylor, revised and edited by Gordon P. DeWolf, Jr. Copyright © 1986 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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