Primula auricula L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

It seems likely that the auricula was introduced to English gardeners by immigrant Flemish weavers in the late 16th century.  At this time they seem to have differed little, if at all, from the wild forms, with predominantly yellow flowers with some sports of red or purple.  ‘The few simple forms brought over by the Flemish weavers had increased within the next fifty years to an already bewildering number of varieties.  Proofs of this are to be found in the Garden Book of Sir Thomas Hanmer, published in 1659.  Where the Auricula is concerned he mentions whites, yellows, haire colour, oronge, cherry, crimson, purple, violet, murrey, tawney, olive cinnamon, ash, dun, and others. […] They appear, in fact to have been the beginnings of the stage [Florist’s] auricula.  Sir Thomas Hanmer mentions many named varieties, some forty or more in all.’  [Sitwell].  From this time development of the Florist’s auricula was rapid with Auricular Societies springing up all over Britain, with parallel developments in continental Europe.  Striped and edged varieties were much prized, each type usually having a class to itself in the spring Auricula Shows.  Saint-Hilaire pl.5/1828.

History at Camden Park

Auriculas were received from J. Abbott of Hobart.  Macarthur wrote on 16th June 1846: ‘The auriculas […] have not succeeded.  We have had an exceedingly hot and dry season and although the heat has with the season past away the drought I regret to say continues.’  [MP A2933-2, p.159].  The auriculas received by Macarthur were almost certainly fancy varieties.  They would succeed much better in the mild Hobart climate.

Notes