Primula elatior ‘Jessica’

JESSICA’S CHOCOLATE LEAF OXLIPS

COLLECTOR’S PACK

Primula elatior ‘Jessica’
JESSICA’S CHOCOLATE LEAF OXLIPS

COLLECTOR’S PACK

Primula elatior ‘Jessica’ is an unusual, chocolate leafed form of the old fashioned “Hedgerow Oxlips”.
These are rare and beautiful.

Chocolate foliage

This beautiful strain of Oxlips has a rosette of unusual chocolate puckered leaves, with traditional Oxlip flowers above.
Blooms are very showy in late winter and spring, but the beautifully coloured foliage rosette is a treat all year round.

Chocolate, plum, maroon, & copper red foliage through the seasons 

Foliage colours ebb and flow across the leaves with the seasons, ranging from copper red blushes, to deep plums and maroons, and then dark chocolate.

With Oxlip flowers in jewel colours

(I am not sure why they are called “Oxlips” – because I can’t see any resemblance to the lips of our cows).
But the flowers of Primula elatior ‘Jessica’ are dainty, lovely and come in a range of jewel colours.
From white, pinks, reds, maroons, apricots, peachy shades, lemons, yellows and creams.

Old Fashioned, much loved, Oxlips with great foliage colour

Oxlips of any colour are much loved, and treasured amongst all the Primula family.
But this unusual strain of Oxlips with beautiful chocolate coloured foliage is simply exceptional.

Exquisitely fragrant blooms

The flowers are borne in posies of clustered heads, with a sweet pure scent.
Jessica’s Chocolate Leaf Oxlips really are enchanting in every way.

Heralds of spring

Clusters of flowers appear during late winter and early spring.
So they usher in the joys of spring and enchant with their early flowers and fragrance.

Treasures for shade

Primula elatior ‘Jessica’  has similar growing requirements to most other Primula.
So they enjoy positions in Shade to Deep Shade.

Jessica’s Chocolate Oxlips are robustly frost hardy

And can withstand hard winter cold.

Cope with poorer soils & clay

They are well adapted to soils with low fertility, moist and boggy spots or heavier soil, clay based soils, as well as soils generously enriched with compost and leaf mould.

Long lasting perennial clumps

So Oxlips are not difficult to grow, given their preferred conditions, and they are long lasting perennial clumps, with excellent frost resistance.
So you will be enchanted by your clumps of Jessica’s Oxlips for many years to come.

Enchanting in pots or garden

Primula elatior ‘Jessica’ are easy, low maintenance plants when planted in a suitable spot or in a cool shaded pot.
They form evergreen perennial clumps of chocolate 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 elatior ‘Jessica’ grows 30cm. High in winter-spring flower spires x 25cm. Wide evergreen foliage rosette.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow indoors in winter, spring or autumn, whenever suitable temperatures can be provided (15-18°C).
OR
Scatter outdoors in winter or spring.

(Sowing Tip for Primula seed: Primula seeds are very fine and tiny. So pop a little fine sieved seed-raising mix into the bag containing the seed and shake around to collect the seed.
Then sow the entire contents of the bag).

Sow indoors for optimum germination: 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.

Then place the sown, moist punnet in a well lit position (with good light but absolutely no direct sunlight because this will dry the seeds out).

And continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly with a spray water bottle.
Covering with a clear plastic lid or plastic bag 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 COLLECTOR’S PACK: 7 seeds per pack (Seed of this unusual and prized variety is scarce).

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