Primula marginata
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Primula marginata 001.JPG
|image_caption =
|genus = Primula
|species = marginata
|authority = Curtis
|synonyms=
- Aretia crenata (Lam.) Link
- Auricula crenata (Lam.) Spach
- Auricula-ursi marginata (Curtis) Soják
- Primula crenata Lam.
- Primula microcalyx Lehm.
- Primula rheiniana Ingw.
}}
Primula marginata, the silver-edged primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the south western Alps of France and Italy.
Description
Primula marginata is an evergreen or semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial growing to {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide. The toothed, obovate to lancelet shaped leaves are leathery with mealy-white edges.{{Cite book|last=Grey-Wilson|first=Christopher|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OnGSrv_g698C&pg=PA164|title=The Rock Garden Plant Primer: Easy, Small Plants for Containers, Patios, and the Open Garden|date=2009-01-01|publisher=Timber Press|isbn=978-0-88192-928-7}} Umbels with up to 20 slightly scented lavender or occasionally pink flowers with white mealy eye zones are produced in late spring to early summer. The mealy-white bloom of the leaves give rise to the common names.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}
Cultivation
The earliest cultivation of this species dates to 1700s.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aOvgDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|year=2017|lccn=2016056621|publisher=University of Alaska Press|author=Brenda C. Adams|title=Cool Plants for Cold Climates: A Garden Designer's Perspective|page=159|isbn=978-1602233256}}
Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf|title=AGM Plants - Ornamental|date=July 2017|page=81|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|accessdate=28 January 2019}}
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- Primula marginata{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/13806/Primula-marginata-(Au)/Details | title = Primula marginata | website = www.rhs.org | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 17 February 2021}}
- Primula marginata 'Beamish'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/96213/Primula-marginata-Beamish-(Au)/Details | title = Primula marginata 'Beamish' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 17 February 2021}}
- Primula marginata 'Linda Pope'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/83468/Primula-marginata-Linda-Pope-(Au)/Details | title = Primula marginata 'Linda Pope' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 17 February 2021}}
- Primula marginata 'Prichard's Variety'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/75169/Primula-marginata-Prichard-s-Variety-(Au)/Details | title = Primula marginata 'Prichard's Variety' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 17 February 2021}}
- Primula marginata 'Tony' ('Toni') {{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/112098/Primula-Tony-(Au)/Details | title = Primula marginata 'Tony' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 17 February 2021}}
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