Barnhaven Polyanthus

Polyanthus primroses are so called because they produce several flowers on a tall stem. Their origins are lost in the midst of time but probably derive from crosses between Primula vulgaris, Primula veris and Primula elatior. 

Barnhaven polyanthus primula derive originally from five packets of Sutton's seeds which were purchased by Florence Bellis in 1935. All our polyanthus are direct descendants from these seeds. In all this time, there have been only two ''foreign'' introductions to our strain - pollen from the original Cowichan clone and plants from Linda Eickman's pink strain of polyanthus.

All the Barnhaven Polyanthus plants and seed still come from these carefully hand-pollinated seed strains. This  ensures that we produce high quality plants and seed every year from our rigorously selected plants, maintaining the variety in the forms and colours that we love. 

Polyanthus primula produce very good visible displays in the garden and are often used in formal beds in combination with spring bulbs or other plants. They will also grow very well in pots. Just keep removing the spent stems to prolong the display. 

Flowering times: February to April

Height : 15-20cm.

Culture: semi-shade, damp but well-drained soil. Clump forming, divide every couple of years for the best results.

For more tips on growing polyanthus see the section on Primroses and Polyanthus.