Primula auricula ex Austria

[Dave]

I have a Primula auricula which originated from Austrian wild stock and had 2 beautiful umbels of fragrant yellow flowers when I bought it 2 years ago, but it hasn't flowered since. I have had good success growing and flowering other auricula cultivars but not this one. It was suggested I should plant it out in the garden and let it do it's own thing - I am presently growing it in a pot. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[David Nicholson]

Hi Dave and welcome to the Forum.

You are not on your own having problems in getting a Primula auricula to flower. I have the same problem albeit with a nursery bought plant which may well turn out to be a hybrid. In case you have not found the discussion already it can be seen here   http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1739.0

I'm going to give my plant one more year and intend to feed it well with high potash when growth starts next year and if it doesn't flower again then it's going in the garden.

[Michael J Campbell]

I'm going to give my plant one more year and intend to feed it well with high potash when growth starts next year and if it doesn't flower again then it's going in the garden.

David, I think you need to feed the potash in the Autumn for flowers in the spring, I would start about the beginning of August.

[David Nicholson]

Michael, of course you are right, my brain is working much more slowly than my typing fingers-it's an age thing!

[hadacekf]

Hi Dave,
Welcome to the Forum. If you a rock garden have implant the P. auricula there. Wild collected P. auricula are often shy flowering. One gets the best plants from wild collected seeds.

[Kristl Walek]

Franz sent me wild collected seed of P. auricula some years ago. They took many, many years to grow up, but are now flowering quite reliably. I will post pictures once I get home....

[Michael J Campbell]

it's an age thing!

David,it is called Alzheimer's. 

[Maggi Young]

it's an age thing!

David,it is called Alzheimer's. 

Saw an article in the paper today about how celery can help beat Alzheimer's but I didn't remember to read it 

[Kristl Walek]

Dave, I grew my plants from wild seed as I mentioned. They went straight to the garden as tiny 1st year seedlings- and have flowered reliably since they grew up--some years better than others. They are in ordinary garden soil, some in the rock garden in full sun, some in light shade.

[Dave]

Hi everybody and thank you all so much for your advice. This is my first posting on any forum anywhere and it's been a great experience. I'll try the high potash feed starting early August - is this is when the embryo buds are initiated? Kristl, thanks for the photos - what is your climate like? I'm in Northern Ireland which is mostly mild and damp and the winters wouldn't be too cold.

Dave

 

[Kristl Walek]

I'm in Northern Ireland which is mostly mild and damp and the winters wouldn't be too cold.

Hello Again Dave,
Our climates are *very* different. Cold winters (historically to -40C or colder, but much milder now with global warming- last winter maybe -25C?). Short, hot and uncomfortably humid summers. Falls are getting longer too, historically first frost the end of September (last year October?) Plants have not been fed, or otherwise specially tended.