Primula cockburniana

COCKBURN’S CANDELABRAS

Primula cockburniana
COCKBURN’S CANDELABRAS

Primula cockburniana is one of the most coveted and sought after of all the gorgeous Candelabra Primulas.

One of the most prized of all the gorgeous Candelabra Primula

Because Cockburn’s Candelabras bear dainty, refined blooms of rich tangerine; stacked up in showy whorls like a candelabra; contrasted by silvery, mealy stems and foliage.
The colour combination and elegant, refined form stops you in your tracks.

And one of the most suitable for home gardens and pots

And it is one of the most suitable for both normal garden conditions (it does not need a bog) and for displaying in pots.

Tangerine & silver beauty

Multiple stems of refined, fiery candelabra flowers appear during spring and early summer, on silver-dusted stems, above a very neat rosette of puckered leaves.
They are delightful and neat plants.

Treasures for shade or a moist spot

Primula cockburniana have similar growing requirements to most other Candelabra Primula, but are somewhat easier.
So they enjoy positions in Shade to Deep Shade in soil with plenty of organic matter; or they relish more sun if they are planted in damp spots or water-side.
However they do not enjoy really wet, boggy spots like some of the other Candelabra Primulas.

And instead enjoy heavier soil, clay based soils, as well as soils with acid to neutral pH.
They simply purr with a treat of compost, leaf mold, mulch or aged manure.

Cockburn’s Candelabras are robustly frost hardy Primula

Primula cockburniana can happily tolerate temperatures and frosts down to -20C.
So if the winter is exceptionally cold they will just become deciduous until warmer times come back.

Beauties to enjoy for many years

So Cockburn’s Candelabras are not difficult to grow, given their preferred conditions of course; and while they are perennial clumps – they also willingly self sow new plants each year as they seed in late summer.
You will be enchanted by these fire and silver beauties for many years.

Enchanting in pots or small garden areas

Primula cockburniana are easy, low maintenance plants when planted in a suitable spot or in a cool shaded pot.
They are an ideal size for small garden areas and pots, though they pack a huge colour punch.
Forming perennial clumps of puckered Primula foliage, sitting close to the ground as a neat rosette.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Mercifully rabbits and deer are not particularly attracted to Primula, and tend to pass them by on their way to more favourite fodder.

Primula cockburniana grows 30cm. High with spring-summer fiery flower spires x 20cm. Wide foliage rosette.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow indoors in winter, spring or autumn / or scatter outdoors winter or spring.

Indoors:
(Sowing Tip: Primula seeds are very fine and tiny. So pop a little fine sieved mix into the bag containing the seed and shake around to collect the seed, and then sow the contents of the bag).

First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.

Now gently pat the surface to ensure the seeds have good contact with the the mix.
But do not cover with mix because these seeds need light to germinate.

Thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath – allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place the sown, moist punnet in a well lit position (with good light but absolutely no direct sunlight).
And continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly with a spray water bottle.
Covering with a plastic hat will also help to maintain consistent moisture.
Primula seed like consistent moisture and resent drying out.

Temperatures of 15-18°C. are best for optimum and rapid germination.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 21-40 days.

However if the seeds are shy to germinate – Then cling wrap the moist sown punnet and place in the  fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
Then remove, unwrap and return to well-lit position at 15-18°C. and continue to keep moist.

Seed Count: 100 seeds per pack.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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