Primula juliae Ideaal - Primrose

The Primula juliae 'Ideaal' is a new variety of Caucasian Primrose, a small vigorous and hardy plant that quickly forms dense carpets, covered with small, fragrant flowers, red-purple with a yellow heart. Its long flowering period takes place from May to July, and is enhanced by a waffle-textured foliage, in a beautiful bright green. Very perennial, this small creeping perennial is easy to place in borders, damp rockeries, at the edge of woodlands, or by a pond, planted in a humus-rich and moist soil.

The Primula Juliae 'Ideaal' is a recent horticultural creation, prolific and robust, resulting from the cross-breeding between Primula juliae and P. acaulis. The species Primula juliae is a very small rhizomatous and stoloniferous wild primrose native to the Caucasus (Georgia), characterised by excellent hardiness, a very neat habit and very beautiful dark and shiny foliage. Primroses belong to the primrose family. The beautiful foliage of 'Ideaal' develops in small rosettes on the ground, emerging from the underground rhizome, to form a slowly spreading carpet. The leaves, more or less evergreen, 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long, waffle-textured and glossy, are a more or less dark green depending on the nature of the soil. From May to July, in successive waves, short flower stalks appear, 10 cm (4in) high, bearing terminal clusters of fragrant flowers with smooth petals, a fairly vivid carmine-purple with a small yellow heart. They are so numerous that they cover the foliage. It tolerates short periods of drought quite well, which will abruptly stop its flowering.

The 'Ideaal' primrose thrives in a humus-rich, constantly moist but well-drained soil, not too shaded, conditions that can be found in damp rockeries or rocky areas bordering a small waterfall. In borders or in containers on a balcony, this plant pairs well with hostas, forget-me-nots, peonies, or large comfreys. Primroses are perfect in borders, low beds under leafy cover, in rockeries and lawns, among snowdrops and violets.

The primroses in our gardens are almost all perennials, sometimes annuals and rarely woody plants. Their cultivation can be either very easy or very difficult. Often, climate is a determining factor for their survival; some species die if the summer temperature is too high, others if the winter is too damp or too cold, etc. It is a complex genus that we have been cultivating for 25 years, but to understand the very different ways of life of all the rare species, one must spend a lot of time with them and know that they do not forgive any mistakes. The ones in this catalogue do not all present the same level of difficulty, but they can all be cultivated by a careful amateur. Some are easy to grow, others less so. It's up to you to choose the ones you think you can master the cultivation of!