nivalid primulas

[zephirine]

Could someone clarify for me what "nivalid" means?
Is it used for primulas which grow in countries where they have (need) snow cover in winter?
I have heard that name about primula chionantha, "the easiest of the nivalids"..
Are there others? I could not find any definition or list on the web...
Do they require special conditions? (soil, temps, etc...)
Thank you in advance!
Zeph

[Carlo]

Well, "nival" refers to a region with perpetual snow...so you're on the right track...

[zephirine]

Gratiam tibi habeo, Carlo domine, responsione tua!
But I'd really like to know more!
Zeph

[Maggi Young]

Nivalid primulas are in the section Crystallophlomis, they make tight resting buds to overwinter, which is their main feature.    This page from Kevock Nursery's site shows various types and gives a brief introduction to them :
http://www.kevockgarden.co.uk/plantlist/primula_orbicularis.htm
Hope this helps,  Zephirine.

[zephirine]

Hi Maggi!
Yes, it does help, I mean it...
Thank you for the link : I understand better the specificity of these plants, and feel a little more confident about the possibility to grow them with my conditions:
My garden is not acidic (slightly alkaline), but mostly fresh, never dries in summer except at the very surface. Drainage, especially in winter,  is a problem, though, but I have a few places where I think I could try these...
Candelabra-type primulae won't accept it here, and I'm trying to find better species for spring around my pond.
Winters in my place are certainly more severe than in GB, and it seems this gives them a better chance!
Snow cover we have sometimes (up to 2' two years ago), but probably not enough. A good blanket of fallen carpinus leaves might replace it, I hope!
Thank you again!
Zephirine

[Lesley Cox]

Nivalid primulas are in the section Crystallophlomis, they make tight resting buds to overwinter, which is their main feature.   

This section used to be called "Nivales" and that's where the "nivalid" reference most likely comes from. But the section itself would have been called that from the need for snow cover in winter. Many primulas need or at least like that but those in Section Crysallophlomis are all closely related of course. Here in New Zealand while they are growable in the short term, being damp rather than under dry snow in winter they are inclined to rot and die so have to be regrown from fresh seed. Most have white or yellow farina on their leaves, heavily, on the undersides. The leaves and roots are usually perfumed, as well as the flowers.

[Olga Bondareva]

My five cents. 

I met "nivalid" primulas always in cool places, at subalpine and mostly alpine zone. Usually they grow near cold water running from glacier but not in it. They can be covered by snow not only in winter. And they like cool moist conditions and short vegetation period. The last is most important.

I tried to grow P. nivalis, P. turkestanica, P. bayernii, P. macrophylla, P. chionantha and P. sinopurpurea. Most successful I was with P. sinopurpurea:

http://photofile.ru/users/olga_bond/1199602/52985191/#mainImageLink


http://photofile.ru/users/olga_bond/1199602/52985194/#mainImageLink


http://photofile.ru/users/olga_bond/1199602/52985190/#mainImageLink

But 8 of 10 plants died after first flowering. Other species live two or three years and gradually dies. It happens in summer when hot. 

[David Nicholson]

Welcome back Olga.

[zephirine]

Thank you, Olga!
This leaves me with little hope that they could thrive here, as the vegetation period is fairly long for me, even though I can provide cool and moist allright....
Do cry for me, oh primula...
The truth is : I'll never keep you
All through my wild beds
My mad insistence
It's you that I miss
Why keep your distance?
Zeph

[David Shaw]

The only way that we can keep nivalids, for a few years, is in a frame on the north side of the greenhouse: protected from winter wet but shaded in summer. I have seen them growing well, in Scotland, in a polytunnel house located in a sheltered woodland.

[Olga Bondareva]

Thanks David! 

Zephirine
Hope never dies! I tried and lost so many primulas and try, and try again. Believe you will find them right place. And will keep them.

[Maggi Young]

Ah, Zeph, you will understand this....

I don't expect my favourite plants to last for long
Never fool myself that my seeds will grow true
Being used to mildew  I anticipate it
But all the same I hate it -- wouldn't you?

[Boyed]

Olga,

Very pleased to see you in this forum. I'd like to say that you have really a wonderful website and I often visit. Thanks a lot for such a hard and useful work.

I photographed some native primula species last year when I was in the local mountain Maimekh. I am not very informed about primulas, but it would be intereting to know to what group they belong to

[Boyed]

more pic

[Katherine J]

Hello Zhirair,
As I know P. amoena (and P. veris too) belongs to Vernalis section.
If not, surely somebody will cry here and tell you the truth