Primula Mister Silver Laced - Oxlip

Primula elatior 'Mister Silver Laced' is an improvement on the amazing Silver Lace Black variety with black flowers edged in white. This one is even more floriferous in spring; its flower stalks are stronger and the design of its flowers even finer. It produces tricoloured flowers, with almost-black petals, finely edged in white-silver, centred on a beautiful yellow throat. It is also a hardy perennial or biennial that should be placed near a walkway in order to admire the design of its flowers at leisure. It will brighten up the partially shaded areas of the garden, as well as containers.

Primula elatior, also known as Oxlip, is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to our native flora and is mostly found in the partial shade of clear undergrowth or at the edge of the forest. When abundant, oxlips are an indicator of ancient forests little disturbed by human activity.

This plant has produced, through hybridisation with the Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris), many short-lived perennial hybrids, most often cultivated as biennial plants. This 'Mister Silver Laced' primrose blooms from May to June-July, more or less early depending on the climate, for about two months. On each plant, 2 or 3 flower stalks 25 cm (10 in) in height bear bouquets of 4 to 7 single, slightly fragrant flowers, of a beautiful size, composed of rounded petals, of an almost black-brown colour, finely edged in white, arranged in a collar around a bright yellow centre. Their highly contrasting colour is well highlighted by evergreen foliage in rosettes of large, deeply veined dark green leaves, ornamental even outside of the flowering period.

Elatior primroses are less well known than stemless primroses, but they have their own advantages: they are taller, more robust, and show more perenniality, and their flowering is also more spectacular. They are excellent companions for shade and cool undergrowth perennials such as heucheras, forget-me-nots, brunneras, pansies, horned violets, and hostas. They allow for decoration of a terrace, window, or balcony, planted in containers that will brighten up facades. They also hold up very well in a simple bouquet, a rare gift that is always a pleasure to give or receive.