Primula trial results 2021–2023

Objectives and purpose of the trial

The focus of this Primula (common primrose) trial was on cultivars specifically bred from the Primula section, formerly known as the Vernales section. The last time Primula was trialled at the RHS was in the 1990s and since then, new selections have been introduced. At RHS Bridgewater, Greater Manchester, the RHS Trials team wanted to compare new and established cultivars for the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) and to see how they performed for garden use.
Colourful primulas blooming in the trial beds at RHS Bridgewater
Close up plant portrait of Primula 130701 in the trial beds

Judging criteria

The following factors were all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:

  • Earliness to flower
  • Longevity of flowering
  • Weather tolerance of blooms

  • Foliage colour and presentation
  • General plant vigour

Suppliers to the trial

List of plants in the trial

View all the primulas trialled at RHS Bridgewater
  • Primula ‘Dawn Ansell’
  • Primula [Belarina Snow] = ‘Kerbelsnow’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Chablis] = ‘Kerbelcrice’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Cream] = ‘Kerbelcrem’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Lemon Chiffon] = ‘Kerbelchiffon’ (Belarina Rosette Series) submitted as (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Buttercup] = ‘Kerbelbut’ (Belarina Rosette Series) submitted as [Belarina Butter Yellow] = 'Kerbelbut' (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Spring Sun] = ‘Kerbelsun’ (Prima Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Spring Sun] = ‘Kerbelsun’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula ‘Sunshine Susie’
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Mandarin] = ‘Kerbelman’ (Prima Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Mandarin] = ‘Kerbelman’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Goldie] = ‘Kerbelgoldie’ (Prima Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Goldie] = ‘Kerbelgoldie’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Nectarine] = ‘Kerbelnec’ (Belarina Rosette Series)
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Carmen] = ‘Kerbelcarmen’ (Prima Belarina Series)
  • Primula ‘Captain Blood’
  • Primula [Belarina Rosette Valentine] = ‘Kerbelred’ (Belarina Rosette Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Champagne Ruby] = ‘Kerbeljolais’ (Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Beaujolais] = ‘Kerbeljolais’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Purple Dawn] = ‘Kerbeldawn’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Tarragem Sparkling Ruby’
  • Primula [Belarina Candy Frost] = ‘Kerbelblic’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Lively Lilac] = ‘Kerbelil’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Lilacina Plena’ submitted as Primula ‘Quaker’s Bonnet’
  • Primula [Belarina Pink Ice] = ‘Kerbelpice’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula ‘Sue Jervis’
  • Primula [Belarina Pink Champagne] = ‘Kerbelchamp’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Amethyst Ice] = ‘Kerbelpicotee’ (Belarina Rosette Series)
  • Primula ‘Strong Beer’
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Blue Champion] = ‘Kerbelchab’ (Prima Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Blue Champion] = ‘Kerbelchab’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Baltic Blue] = ‘Kerbelbal’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula ‘Schneekissen’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Taigetos’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Carrigdale’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Mount Juliet’
  • Primula ‘Elizabeth Browning’
  • Primula ‘MacWatt’s Cream’
  • Primula ‘Lady Greer’
  • Primula ‘Everlast’
  • Primula vulgaris
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Tara’
  • Primula ‘Maisie Michael’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Moneygall’ (Kennedy Irish Series)
  • Primula Lissadel hybrids submitted as Primula vulgaris ‘Lissadell’
  • Primula x polyantha ‘June Blake’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Claddagh’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Dunbeg’ (Kennedy Irish Series)
  • Primula [Oakleaf Yellow Picotee] submitted as ‘Oak Leaf Yellow Picotee’
  • Primula 130701
  • Primula ‘Don Keefe’
  • Primula 121601
  • Primula 120302
  • Primula ‘Gareth’
  • Primula ‘Buckland Wine’
  • Primula ‘Old Port’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Blarney Castle Pink’
  • Primula ‘Dark Rosaleen’
  • Primula ‘Oak Leaf Magenta’
  • Primula ‘Perle von Bottrop’
  • Primula ‘Mrs Frank Neave’
  • Primula ‘Wanda’
  • Primula ‘Lingwood Beauty’
  • Primula ‘Tipperary Purple’
  • Primula 183103
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Glengarriff’ (Kennedy Irish Series)
  • Primula ‘Innisfree Pink’
  • Primula ‘Kinlough Beauty’
  • Primula ‘Katie Daly’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Avondale’ (Kennedy Irish Series)
  • Primula ‘Duchess of York’
  • Primula ‘David Valentine’
  • Primula ‘Iris Mainwaring’
  • Primula vulgaris [Drumcliffe] = ‘K74’
  • Primula vulgaris ‘Avoca’
  • Primula ‘Guinevere’
  • Primula ‘Groenekan’s Glorie’
  • Primula ‘Romeo’
  • Primula ‘Barbara Midwinter’
  • Primula ‘John Fielding’
  • Primula ‘Hall Barn Blue’
  • Primula ‘Blue Lace Dark’
  • Primula ‘Blue Lace’
  • Primula ‘Tie Dye’
  • Primula ‘Francisca’
  • Primula [Prima Belarina Ocean Blue] = ‘Kerbelocean’ (Prima Belarina Series) submitted as [Belarina Ocean Blue] = ‘Kerbelocean’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula [Belarina Baltic Blue] = ‘Kerbelbal’ (Belarina Series)
  • Primula ‘Everlast’
  • Primula ‘Groenekan’s Glorie’
  • Primula ‘Barbara Midwinter’
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For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at trials@rhs.org.uk.

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