Primula Auriculas - March 2020

On Wednesday 4 March, at our Monthly Meeting we enjoyed a well presented talk by Rachel Castle. 
She  owns and runs Swallowfields Nursery, a small specialist nursery at Elmstead in Kent, specialises in, her true love are Primula Auricula in all its various forms
Their natural habitat is the mountain regions of Europe, Pyrenees, Alps and Dolomites which gives a clue to their preferred conditions, good drainage, sunshine but partly shaded with little nutrients.
The Huguenots were keen horticulturists and when they fled Europe to the UK brought Auriculas with them. 50,000 of them fled from France  to England and many settled in Kent. There is even a Huguenot Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral.

Rachel after her talk

We viewed images of the various categories of Primula Auriculas. Borders which smell divine, Alpines without the dusting of farina with dark to light gradation of the blooms with little scent and Doubles with a wonderful scent. Then there are the Show Auriculas: selfs, green edged, white edged, stripped and fancy most with wonderful dusting of farina giving them an almost unreal appearance. They are, however, difficult to grow.
Rachel concluded with her top tips for successful growing:
No Swimming 
No Sunbathing 
Regular bottom inspections 
We then had the opportunity to view and purchase a selection of Auriculas.

Above and below: some of the plants for sale