Plant of the week

PRIMULA AURICULA

SPRING-FLOWERING auriculas come in a huge range of colours, including deep purple, maroon, tan, yellow and cream — often with rich fragrance.

The fanciest colours occur in show varieties, usually kept in pots in a cold greenhouse.

Alpine and border varieties thrive in sun or part shade outside. Plant in free-draining, lime-rich or neutral soil, or in pots or troughs filled with a loam- based, sharpdraining compost. Try Pops Plants ( popsplants.co.uk) or Drointon Nurseries ( auricula-plants.co.uk) for supplies.

If vine weevil larvae attack the roots, try nematode treatment to control the pest in spring.