6. PRIMULA

Primula is the major genus in the primrose family (Primulaceae). The plants form perennial mounds made of numerous leaf rosettes, and have decorative, colourful flowers on leafless stems.

Primula longipetiolata

Primula is the major genus in the primrose family (Primulaceae). The plants form perennial mounds made of numerous leaf rosettes, and have decorative, colourful flowers on leafless stems. Most Primula species like long winters and cool summers. The genus is one of our highest priorities. There are about 460 species of Primula. They are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, with 6 species in Norway. However, its centre of diversity is in Himalaya, and in particular in the neighbouring Chinese mountains.

Our collection is organized according to the sections. The purely European section Auricula is grown on the major hill, where we now have 21 out of 25 species. The yellow Primula lutea with its nice odour is one of the parents of the Garden auriculas cultivated in masses near the Café house. The exclusive Snow Primula section (Crystallophlomis) also flowers in spring. They grow in the damp slope below the waterfall, and are a speciality of our Garden, as many species are impossible to grow in warmer climates. Late summer is the time for the taller species of the Sikkimenses (giant cowslip) and the Proliferae (candelabra primrose) sections in adjacent sites. 

The genus Androsace (rock jasmines) consists of small cushion plants and is cultivated in crevices of our Androsace Hill. This area was constructed by the Czechs David Holubec and Petr Hanzelka as a simulation of a laminated, vertically oriented rock outcrop.