Primula polyanthus Dark Rosaleen - Hose-in-hose

Primula 'Dark Rosaleen' is an astonishing hybrid primrose, both unusual and highly decorative. Its flowers are heavily striped or even streaked with dark pink-red on a pale pink background and centred on a beautiful bright yellow throat. They flower from late winter to mid-spring, on a rosette of large beautifully shaded bronze and purple wavy leaves. This recent variety looks stunning when paired with Siberian squills, grape hyacinths, and forget-me-nots in a large pot. It will thrive in partial shade in moist to wet soil, for example near a water source or along an east-facing pathway.

Primula 'Dark Rosaleen', recently bred in Ireland by Joe Kennedy, is named after a famous Irish poem by James Clarence Mangan. It is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the primrose family, part of the complex hybrid group known as polyanthus primroses. This remarkable variety stands out for its remarkably coloured foliage and its long and brilliant flowering, abundant and continuous from March to May. The plant forms a nice clump of foliage, 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) tall and 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) wide in just a few months. It develops more or less persistent rosettes of wavy and veined leaves, ranging in colour from green-bronze to purple hues, carried by purple petioles. 'Dark Rosaleen' produces 2-3 cm (1 in) flowers, fully opened, slightly undulated, mostly dark pink, striped and finely edged with pale pink, illuminated by a yellow throat. They are gathered in small clusters and carried by short, also purple, hairy peduncles.

New cultivar creations are bringing these perennials, often grown as biennials, back into the spotlight, much to our delight! The hybrid 'Dark Rosaleen' primrose deserves a place in the garden or on the balcony. Original and decorative, it will pair well with spring bulbs such as blue or white crocuses and pastel-coloured daffodils, for example. In border plantings or in containers, this plant goes well with its white, blue, and pink companions, as well as forget-me-nots and corydalis that appreciate the same environments. Primroses are perfect under the cover of leafy plants, in rockeries and short grass meadows, among snowdrops and violets. The leaves and flowers are edible and can be consumed raw or cooked.