The very first days of Spring bring into bloom those appealing members of the primrose family called the Juliana hybrids. They are so named after their parent, Primula juliae, a native of the Caucasus.
It was first grown in English gardens in 1911 and is cherished in gardens everywhere for its beauty, its willingness, and its ability to grow under all conditions except those of drought.
The small, wrinkled leaves of this species form tuft from a creeping root-stock, tight against the earth, and the plants later are covered with satin-textured, vivid magenta flowers on one-inch stems in prodigal profusion.
Primula juliae is an excellent ground cover for a half-shady, moist and cool situation where it can spread and, eventually, cover a large area. Pieces may be pulled off at will and set into the ground to make large plants, reaching 18″ inches in diameter.
A solid bed of this plant, when covered with its glowing purple-red flowers, is an indescribably rich and beautiful sight.
Growing Requirements
It was early recognized that Primula juliae, possessing hardiness, floriferousness, and great ease of culture, had all the qualities of a good parent.
Hybridizers began crossing it almost at once with other early-blooming primulas of its section, such as Primula rulgaria, the common primrose, Primula veris, the cowslip, and Primula elatior, the oxlip, Primula polyantha, and the Levantine primrose.
Thus, with Primula juliae as the “mother,” a new group of plants was developed that cannot be surpassed for color in the early garden or for edging purposes and mass plantings.
All they require is a relatively wealthy, moist soil, not water-logged, an excellent, half-shaded position, and frequent division, which is best done shortly after blooming. They must be given water during the hot, dry days of Summer, as they cannot stand drought for even a short interval.
Developing Hybrids
Wide varieties came to life through the efforts of hybridizers. Being intermediate between the parents, some showed strongly, in their creeping habit, small round leaves and short-stemmed flowers, the influence of Primula juliae.
Others again had long leaves and flowers in umbels on taller stems following the style of the polyanthus type, and some closely resembled Primula veris and
Primula elatior, especially in coloring. Also, there are found many that look like the common primrose, having large flowers borne singly on 3″ inch stems.
With the wide variations in foliage from small, round leaves to long strap-shaped ones, which might also vary in color from bright apple-green to bronzy dark-green, there was also significant variance in color: red, claret, mauve, orchid, violet-blue, white, pink and cream.
With every intermediate shade, developed from crossing and recrossing the original plants and the offspring. One can easily see that the juliana hybrids are exciting and far from monotonous.
Varieties Galore
Primula Wanda was one of the first of these hybrids. While a good plant is now eclipsed by the variety Gloria, superb in glowing red-purple shades and reminiscent of Primula juliae, it is a much larger plant in all its parts.
by C Regan
13455 by NA