A giant amongst rhodos, with giant clusters of white (or pink) flowers, each with a blotch of dark pigment in the throat of every flower. If you ever walk towards the very back of Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver in May, you will be stunned by the grove they have of this beauty. An upward growing, twiggy shrub with blue to mauve flowers in airy clusters. This species is available in three named forms (‘Electra’,'Tower Court’ and ‘Blue Cloud’). augustinii is here, for the third time only, in almost 20 years. This fabulous species has huge foliage and giant flower clusters of pale cream, each blossom stained with a crimson blotch. macabeanum flowers are soft yellow, with a purple blotch. the foliage is fabulous and so are the enormous flower clusters. Visit UBC and Van Dusen and you’ll marvel at these tree-like rhodos…. These spectacular plants do get big, but it is fairly slow. The foliage is enormous, you’ll notice it in the photo.
This year we did it ! The most incredible (to me, anyway) is our Rhododendrom macabeanum batch. We would locate them, and growers would promise them, but we would never actually get them. With many trips to Oregon under my belt, it just never ever happened. WOW - In the 19 years that I have been running this nursery, we have never had rhododendrons like we have right now. Think about planting some for cut flowers - they aren’t longstemmed, but work well in little bouquets ! As ‘front of the border’ subjects, they perform effortlessly for years and years.
The majority of primula auriculas have plain green leaves and can easily be grown in the garden as well. Some varieties have leaves that are completely dusted with this white meal, and also like to be protected from the rain. These types are best sheltered from hard rain as it spoils their amazing appearance. The finest types have a lovely white ‘meal’ or ‘paste’ in a ring on the flower’s surface or petal edges. You can leave them outside all year, as cold doesn’t bother them. A sandy soil mix suits them best, and small clay pots prevent overwatering. They have a sweet ‘grandmother’ perfume, and bloom from March until June. Some are generic seedlings blooming for the first time. We have a wonderful selection of blooming- size primula auricula plants in stock right now. I think that is so much better than today’s equivalent of a home theatre!! Auriculas or ‘Avatar’ - your choice !! These elaborate outdoor stages were to display their auricula collection, for admirers to gaze at. They still are. People built ‘auricula theatres’ onto their stately homes . True blue, true green (!!!), brown, red, yellow, grey, white, orange, yellow, purple, black … have I missed any ? In England and Scotland, entire shows have been devoted just to ‘auriculas’ since the 1720′s. No other plant on earth comes in such a range of colours. They are happy in 4″ clay pots their entire lives. I have been enamoured with these charming, hardy perennials for over 25 years.
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