Sunshine Farm and Gardens: Glick Pick Archives: Primula 'Sunshine Star'

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Primula 'Sunshine Star'

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Well, I can't take credit for discovering this superstar, but I can congratulate myself for bringing it into the light of day. It was more than 10 years ago that I received my first "Goodie Box" from Rick Lupp at Mt. Tahoma Nursery in Graham, WA. Now that point in my life, I was just contemplating "going commercial" with my plant collection. It was Rick who advised me, "Don't quit your day job!" Well, I did and just found out that a few years ago, he did the same. Mt. Tahoma Nursery is a top notch mailorder Alpine Nursery and Rick is a very knowledgeable plantsman and quite personable.

Now, let me tell you about this plant!!! First of all Rick tells me that it has been hardy for him down to - 10 degrees Fahrenheit with NO snow cover. That's HARDY!! It blooms it's pretty little head off for weeks and weeks in early Spring. The brilliant yellow, attractively notched petals are set off dramatically by the sunny orange star in the throat of the flower. And GUESS WHAT.......It's FRAGRANT!!! Not slightly, but majorly FRAGRANT!!! Is majorly even a word??

I asked Rick what the origins of the plant are and he told me that he found it growing among a bunch of seedlings in a garden center while "Sport Fishing". It jumped out at him and it's easy to understand why. Rick gave me permission, and encouraged me to name it and introduce it to the world. He is extremely well versed in Primulaceae and believes it to be a Primula x Juliana hybrid.

In case you don't know about the Primula x Juliana hybrids, they are interspecific hybrids between Primula juliae and Primula vulgaris or, now here's where it get more confusing, well wait a minute, let me tell you what Leo Jelitto and Wilhelm Schacht say, "Primula x pruhoniciana hort.(Primula x helenae hort., Primula x juliana hort.), originated from a cross between Primula juliae crossed with the Elatior Hybrids are Primula x margotae hort., both are considered the Primula juliae hybrids." Too much information?? Are you sorry you asked??

There are many named cultivars in this group and I'm evaluating an early blooming, icy white one that seems to show a lot of promise, but more about that later.

Just the facts M'am:
Kingdom - Plantae
Phylum - Anthophyta
Class - Dicotyledonae
Order - Primulales
Family - Primulaceae
Genus - Primula
Section - Julia
Species - x Juliana
Cultivar - 'Sunshine Star'
Common name, genus - Primrose
Common name, species - "Juliana Primrose"
Native of - Europe
Height - 3"-8"
USDA Hardiness Zone - zone 5 at least, probably 4, maybe 3
Light preference - Light shade in the North, full in the South
Soil preference - Average to loamy
Moisture preference - Average to moist
Bloom time - Early Spring
Bloom color - Brilliant yellow with an orange star in the throat
Foliage - Medium to dark green
Spread - 8" - 12"
Uses - Front of the shady border
Medicinal uses - None that I know of, how bout you?

The American Primrose Society was founded in 1941 and is one of the oldest American plant societies in existence. I have been a member for many years, and enjoy the colorful, quarterly journals. Dues are only $20.00 per year and the seed exchange is fantastic. You can visit the APS website at: http://www.americanprimrosesoc.org/

A complete set of back issues of "Glick Pick of the Week" is available for the asking. If you would like me to send them, or if you would like to, first see the list, send me an email. Also, if you're getting more than one copy of this weekly mailing, or would like to subscribe a friend, or for some crazy reason, to unsubscribe, let me know.

© 2000 Barry Glick and Sunshine Farm & Gardens

Barry Glick, Sunshine Farm and Gardens
696 Glicks Rd, Renick, WV 24966, USA
Phone: (304) 497-2208
E-mail: barry@sunfarm.com

Last modified February 25, 2020
URL: https://www.sunfarm.com/picks/primulasunshinestar-122715.phtml