Can anybody recommend a book which might aid in the identification of primula cultivars?
Primula cultivars are, of course, myriad and their identification can become muddled. Anyone with suggestions? Any websites, perhaps?
Paddy
Paddy, the best Primula book currently available and probably the most up to date is, in my view, 'Primula' by John Richards published by Batsford (ISBN 0713487283) the edition published in 2002. There is a mass of information in it on species and cultivars with the main emphasis being on the former. I have seen it available on ABE Books.
Although it is a little out of date (actually a lot!) as far as the very many modern cultivars are concerned, if you can get it I can recommend 'Primulas the Complete Guide' by Mary A Robinson published by Crowood, a 1994 impression, ISBN 1852238119. There is a lot of information on the older cultivars some of which are no longer available.
Also useful, but again out of date on modern varieties, is 'Primulas of Europe and America' by Smith, Burrow and Lowe, published by the Alpine Garden Society in 1984.
If you are interested particularly in Primula allionii I can recommend a booklet published by the National Primula and Auricula Society. I have found this very useful for both cultural information and for details of cultivars. If you are interested in this let me know and I will give you further details.
A member of the Society is currently working on a listing of all modern cultivars but as she runs a busy nursery progress is slow.
As far as Web Sites are concerned I can recommend the following:-
http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~viv.pugh/ Lots of pictures of the modern Primula varieties as well as of Auriculas.
http://www.primulaworld.com/PWWeb/Index.shtml Pam Eveleigh's Site is a great resource
http://www.wilkin94.fsnet.co.uk/ useful for Auriculas and Primula sieboldii
http://www.auriculaandprimula.org.uk/index.html The Site of the National Primula and Auricula Society, good for pictures of modern varieties
Hope you find some of these of use.
