Primula sinensis.

[Giles]

..just wondered if anyone knew of a source of Primula sinensis seed?
It used to be a popular houseplant and was listed by 'ordinary' seedsmen such as Suttons...  ..there were even F1 strains available...  but seems to have disappeared into obscurity because of its potential to cause allergic reactions.

[Maggi Young]

I haven't seen these plants for ages, Giles - I hope someone can up with a source . Not only P. sinensis, but also Primula malcoides and P. obconica used to be popular - my Grandfather and Uncle always grew lots of them ( and yes, the plants did bring me out in an itchy rash!) and they make super house plants.

I think I did see a few scruffy obconicas a year or so ago, but they were in such a bad state I wasn't tempted.

[Roma]

I remember growing Primula sinensis a very long time ago but it is many years since I have seen seed for sale.  P. malacoides and obconica used to be available from most of the seed companies.  I even remember growing a double malacoides at one time. 
I've had a look through some of the seed catalogues online.  Chiltern seeds list one variety of Primula malacoides in mixed colours and Thomson & Morgan have one of the varieties of Primula obconica which has had the allergy producing chemical bred out of it.
B&T World seeds list a few varieties of obconica and malacoides.  If I understand their website correctly they last listed Primula sinensis in 1999. 

[Roma]

Giles, I had a few seeds of Primula sinensis from Field House Nursery about 2002.  I thought P. simensis on their list was a misprint.  (It belongs to the same group as verticillata).  They sent me a few seeds of sinensis but germination was poor and I think I only flowered one plant which did not survive long.  I'm not sure if they still grow sinensis but it is worth a try.  Please let us know if you manage to track down seeds of Primula sinensis. 

[Giles]

Thankyou, Roma, I'll give them a try.
I attach a scan from the 1934 Suttons Catalogue...  ..a whole page of P.sinensis strains.

[noelking]

Regardez ici!
http://gaboriau.isabelle.pagesperso-orange.fr/GamNouv2a.html
Not sure though if they still sell them, no indication of prices.

[Maggi Young]

Hello Noel, welcome.

Most recent date I can find on that site is 2008 http://www.gaboriau.com/  so not very hopeful - may be  worth a try though.