![]() ![]() Several specialized classes of auriculas came into existence over the following centuries. Auriculas were a popular plant beginning in the early eighteenth century when keen collectors began to grow and exhibit them in competitions. By 1639, at least 15 different colors and even striped forms were grown. The first auriculas grown in England are illustrated first left above, in a woodcut from Gerard’s Great Herbal of 1596. Charles l’Ecluse (known as Clusius) is the first person known to have grown auriculas in a garden. When first cultivated, they were called ‘Bear’s Ears’. They have evergreen leaves that curl around in a way that resembles the ear of a bear. auricula, have been grown in gardens since the 1500s. The auricula primroses, members of the species P. Actually hundreds of species of Primula are in existence, and some species have been brought into gardens and significantly developed. ![]() I know several returned last year and all going well, we will see many more plant fairs along with the larger shows like Mallow and Bloom during 2022 and my search for the white and green auricula of my dreams can commence.When we think of primroses, the first thing that comes to mind are the ‘Pacific Giant’ hybrid primroses we see in garden centers. Perhaps my dream was motivated by some deep part of my brain yearning for a return to flower shows. Do this using a sharp knife and a steady hand. ![]() If you do want to bulk up on any particularly good variety, the best way to propagate is vegetatively, namely by removing the little plantlets which will emerge around the outside of an established auricula. In other words, seedlings will produce flowers of various new shades and colour combinations. These will grow quite easily from seed but seedlings won’t always come true to type. Border types will, in theory, do well planted out in the garden but I have found, from experience unless they are growing in a very well-drained rockery or scree bed that they will not last many years.Īnyone who has developed a fascination with a plant genus - I hesitate to use the word addiction but really that’s what it can become, and far better than many other addictions -will understand how all-encompassing it can become. Try one or two in a pot on the kitchen windowsill or unheated glasshouse if you have one but do move them out for the summer months as they do like good amounts of ventilation and fresh air. Remember that they are native to mountainous regions and thus they like to grow in very free-draining soils - hence many are grown in pots where the growing medium and drainage can be controlled. Alpine Auriculas are also broken into groups: Light Centred, Gold Centred, Laced and Fancy and then there are Doubles and Border.Īll auriculas will tolerate the frost and low temperatures that we experience in Ireland - however what they do struggle with is the amount of rain that we get here.Įxcessive rain during the winter can simply rot the root system and too much rain during the spring will mark the foliage and leaves along with weakening the overall vigour of the plant. There are Show Auriculas, further categorised as: Edged, Self, Striped and Fancy. auricula is broken down into about 10 groups or categories. There are now auricula societies all over the world dedicated to sharing knowledge, new developments and seeds of these treasures and as the rest of the world has had to change over the last number of years so too, many of these groups now meet via Zoom, to discuss and show off the finer points of prized specimens.Ī species of primula, P. However, it didn’t disappear and this group of plants has retained a loyal and strong number of addicts, one of which I consider myself. They were especially popular during Victorian times in the middle of the 19th century but as trends changed at the end of that century and tastes moved to more natural-looking and less, “perfect” or “artificial” flowers, interest waned. Native to mountainous regions of Central Europe, the first auriculas were seen in European gardens in the mid-1600s. More than that, I am now, of course in search of an auricula with white and green petals, the flowers bigger than what you would normally expect on such a plant.Īuriculas are a group of plants that have garnered quite a following over the centuries. The memory of the dream is so exact and strong that I had no choice but to write about these beauties this week. ![]()
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