Barnhaven polyanthus in bloom
I don’t want to turn this blog into an homage to Barnhaven but, because I have mentioned them in the past, from when I ordered the seeds to the very first few flowers, I ought to do at least one follow up to show how they did. Most have got some decent flowers on now, following a week of dry weather. Frosts do not bother them and it must be emphasised that these plants have been outside all winter and these are very different plants to the fat, pampered primroses in garden centres right now.
So above is ‘Osiered Amber’ which is a true primrose. Most of the others delight me but I always seem to see something that can be improved in them but this one is just perfect to my eyes. The plants are strong growing and have gorgeous dark leaves and the flowers are basically yellow but flushed with red, especially in bud. I love it.
Below is ‘Paris 90’. All these names are for strains so there is some variation in the plants. So far all these have been ‘blue’ and white apart from a few pure white plants and there have been none that show much purple colour. What doesn’t really show much is that the reverse of the petals is often darker than the fronts.
I like them all so far.
Below is ‘Harbour Lights’ which have all been very uniform in colour. They are all very vigorous and most have made multi-centred plants with many flower stems though these are smaller and have fewer flowers than some of the others.
Unfortunately the flowers are as attractive to slugs as they are to me.
‘Daybreak’ is a range of pinks but they are a bit close to the big, modern ones for me to love them – they are smaller and weather resistant though.
I have forgotten to take a photo of ‘Reverie’ which is an amazing blue and possibly the best of the lot. But below is ‘Grand Canyon’ which is ‘glint of the sun on desert rocks’. In fairness the colours are a bit sombre really but the double orange tulips are still in bud so the effect should be better then. Despite my efforts I did not have enough plants for this bed so had to fill in with ‘Desert Sunset’ (at the other side of the bed) which I have to say I like a lot more.
The Biking Gardener 
We may have some of these, which I blithely call primroses if they are yellow, or primulas if they are not. I’ll have to get The Head Gardener on identification
Barnhaven ‘rule’, I had some Auricula from them, brilliant plants. I think I will send for some seeds, Osiered Amber looks like a winner. Did you buy a named packet or one of their mixes ?
I agree with you – I love them. Osiered Amber is a winner – different enough but it has not lost its wild charm. I bought separate packets – lots of them! But it was worth it!
Very nice coming across your blog and this page in particular which has helped me decide upon the primrose seed strains from Barnhaven,
I am glad it helped 🙂