If I am growing seeds from a seed seller (rather than from my own plants), I always assume that the seeds have already gone into dormancy and are going to need a period of cold stratification. I know people do this in the fridge but, being disorganised, I tend to forget, let them dry out, fail to check on the seeds and so forth...so I go for the simplest method of sowing in autumn and leaving the pots outside. I use a good loamy mix 0 here in the UK, John Innes recipes are always soil based and are infinitely better than using potting compost...but, if you can be bothered, you can make an excellent primula starting mix using sieved leaf compost, sterile topsoil and a bit of peat. As long as the mix does not contain a zillion weed seeds and is both free-draining but able to hold sufficient moisture, the actual medium is less important than its water-holding capacity. I sow my seeds on the surface, having tamped it down and compressed it slightly. I don't cover with more soil but use chicken grit instead (make sure to use the flint based stuff not the oyster shell. This is finer (and cheaper) than horticultural grit, lets in enough light and maintains a level of moisture while preventing the growth of vast moss colonies. I water in from the top with a fine rose, to settle the seeds in around the grit crevices. Then I stash the pots out of the way all winter, checking every now and again that they have not dried out. The top of the pots often looks a bit grim by spring - crusty, greenish and never very promising. Even so, around April, the little seedlings should start to germinate (I do not use lights, heating mats or hormones). Fresh seed. I have increased my stock of vulgaris by splitting open the fat seed pods while the little seeds are still green and sticky (around May). I also sowed p.wilsonii in August (they flower much later than the early spring flowers) and again, fresh seed showed a willingness to germinate readily...but overwintering tiny seedlings can be problematic...I will wait till autumn and allow the seeds to sink into dormancy if I do these again. Using a fingernail, I smear the seeds on the top of a moist medium (they are very sticky), cover lightly with grit, water in and wait. The seeds will often germinate in a couple of weeks. I think, in a very cold spring, there might be a use for heating mats or a covered propagator...but in the UK, primulas will often germinate outside in a sunny May/June. I find division is a reliable way of increasing stock - you can do it every year with the common vulgaris and polys, while root cuttings are also easy and viable, especially the denticulata and some of the candelabra types.

What fun to see all these! Of the new introductions, I think the hybrid rugosa 'Wild Spice' rates a mention! I once had a hedge of Rosarie de l'Hay, one of my earliest to bloom, and it also had a glorious clove-spiked fragrance. Most rugosas share a unique quality to their scent. Glad to see 'Parole' on the list--a Kordes also sold as Buxom Beauty, a rose which leaped onto my wish list the first I heard of it!

Hi Amazin , sorry I'm new at this web stuff ( mostly just a lurker) and couldn't find were I wrote to you the 1st time ... me feel so dumb with this puter stuff... but yes I have 9 begonias and 6 are from Logee's, some are named and other are ( pass a along's ) ..... Named ones= Begonia " Richardsiana" B." Snow Capped " B. "Tea Rose" B. "Hot Tamale" B. "Good and Plenty " B, "Tiny Gem " B. " Silver Queen " The Richardsiana has in pass week took a big flop , and so not sure whats up with it , taken it back into house , hope it was just heat stroking from 100 + daze we have been in for pass couple of weeks here in nastyville , so not sure about it. Two other's unknown named ones but pretty just the same and last one I think mite be B. " Sophia Cecile " not sure. I see you have " My Special Angel " have been looking at it in the catalogs . sorry I'm so long winded.... but sure there must be something in your long list that we can work with . P.s. I wont make it to any plant swap so..... not sure how we would do this if we've a mind to ???? But thanks for your time and effort if thats the only way .

Image by: Clare_CAMichelia Figo var. SkinnerianaWhich Shrubs Smell Good? -     Fragrant Plants       The following list of fragrant plants was compiled by Clare_CA.  Please note, this list is considered a work in progress with additional fragrant plants added over time.       Plant Name Abelia mosanensis ‘bridal bouquet,’ fragrant abelia Abelia trilora Acidanthera, 'Peacock orchid' Agastache ‘Summer Breeze’ Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop Aglaia odorata Aloysia virgatas, Sweet Almond Azara microphylla Beaumontia grandiflora Blanc Double de Coubert rugosas Boronia Boronia megastigma Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night orchid) Brugmansia Brunfelsia americana Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia Nitida (Lady of the Night) Brunfelsia pauciflora Buddleia Asiatica Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush Cananga odorata Carolina allspice, Calycanthus sp. Centaurea moschata Sweet Sultan (Annual) Cestrum diurnum Cestrum nocturum Chimonanthus praecox Chlidanthus fragrans Perfumed Fairy Lily (Bulb) Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl,’ Aztec Pearl Mexican Orange Choysia ternata, Mexican Mock Orange Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' Citrus (esp. ‘Bouquet de Fleurs’) Citrus (tree) Clematis Montana Clematis, Sweet Autumn Clematis Clerodendron phillipinum Clerodendrum trichotomum Clethra alnifolia Clethra 'Ruby Spice' Coleonema pulchrum/Breath of Heaven Crinum odorata Crinum powellii and C. moorei Daphne bholua Daphne 'Carol Mackie' Daphne odora Datura Inoxia Datura Metel Datura Stramonium var Tatula Datura wrightii Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’  Diplarrhena moraea ‘Slieve Donard,’ White Flag Iris Dipogon lignosus Diurnum Double Delight - Hybrid Tea Rose Dracaena fragans Eriodictyon capitatum Lompoc Yerba Santa Erysimum cheiri, Wallflower  (Annual) Eupatorium ligustrinum Euphorbia leucocephala Freesia (Bulb) Gardenia angusta Gardenia 'White Gem' Gladiolus callianthus Abyssinian Sword Lily (Bulb) Gladiolus tristis Marsh Afrikaner (Bulb) Hansa - Rugosa Rose Hedychium coronaria, common white ginger Hedychium coronarium Hedychium flavescens/gardnerianum/flavum/coronarium Hedychium gardnerianum is an outstanding ginger lily. Hedysarum coronarium French Honeysuckle Helichrysum (Licorice plant) Hemerocallis ‘Fragrant Treasure,’ Frangrant Treasure Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion,’ Hyperion Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Sherwood Gladiator,’ Sweet Gladiator Daylily Hemerocallis citrina, Lemon Daylily Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, Lemon Lily Hemerocallis minor, Dwarf Daylily Holarrhena densiflora (Jasmine Tree) Hoya lacunosa Hyacinths, Nicotiana, oriental lilies, and easter lilies Hymenocallis ‘Erotica’ Fragrant Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Sulphur Queen’ Sulphur Queen B. Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Tropical Giant’ Hybrid Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis narcissiflora (+ ‘Advance’) Peruvian Daffodil (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis ‘Zwanenburg’ Primrose Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenosporum flavum, Australian Frangipani, Sweetshade (tree) Illicium Floridanum Jasmine molle Jasminum Azoricum Jasminum humile, Italian/Yellow Jasmine Jasminum officinale, Poet’s Jasmine Jasminum polyanthum, Pink/Winter Jasmine Jasminum Sambac Flore Plena Jasminum Sambac, Belle of India Jasminum Sambac, Grand Duke Jasminum Sambac, Maid of Orleans Jasminum x stephanense, Stephan Jasmine Lathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea (Annual) Laurus nobilis, Grecian Bay Laurel (tree) Lavandula, Lavenders (many) Lepechinia hastata, Baja Pitcher Sage Leptospermum petersonii,  Lemon-scented Tea Tree (tree) Lillium "Le Reve" Lobularia maritima, Sweet Alyssum (Self-sowing Annual) Lonicera Lonicera japonica Luculia intermedia/pinceana-Luculia Luculia pinceana/intermedia/gratissimus Madame Isaac Pereire, Antique Rose Magnolia ‘Timeless Beauty’ (tree) Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia (tree) Magnolia hypoleuca Magnolia salicifolia ‘Kockanakee’ (tree) Magnolia salicifolia ‘W.B. Clarke’ (tree) Magnolia seiboldii, Oyama Magnolia Magnolia stellata, Star Magnolia Magnolia Virginiana Magnolia x loebneri ‘Ballerina’ (tree) Magnolia x loebneri ‘Spring Snow’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Royal Star’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Waterlily’ (tree) Magnolia x wieseneri Mandevilla laxa Matthiola incana, Stock (Annual) Matthiola longipetala bicornis, Evening-scented Stock (Annual) Melanoselinum decipiens Michelia champaca Michelia chapensis Michelia doltsopa  Michelia figo, Banana Shrub Michelia Wilsonii (sinensis) Michelia x alba Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ (tree) Milletia reticulata Mirabilis, Four o'clocks Mitriostigma Axillare or African Gardenia Montanoa grandiflora, Narcissus jonquilla ‘Kinglet’, ‘Sweetness’, ‘Vireo’Jonquil (Bulb) Narcissus papyraceus, Paper Whites (Bulb) Narcissus tazetta, Narcissus (Bulb) Narcissus x odorus, Campernelle Jonquil (Bulb) Nicotiana alata Nicotiana sylvestris Orchid Vanda merillii Osmanthus fragrans, Sweet Olive Passiflora Alata “Ruby Glow” Passiflora belotti Passiflora colinvauxii (honeysuckle fragrance) Passiflora helleri Passiflora Incense Passiflora serratodigitata Passiflora sprucei Pelargonium , Scented Geraniums (all*) -- Pelargonium ‘Filicifolium’  Balsam Pelargonium ‘Tutti-Fruiti’ Tutti-Fruiti Pelargonium capitatum ‘Attar of Roses’ Old Rose Pelargonium crispum ‘Peach Cream’ Peach Pelargonium crispum ‘Prince of Orange’ Orange Pelargonium crispum Lemon Pelargonium graveolens ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ Lemon-rose Pelargonium graveolens Rose Pelargonium grossularioides Coconut Pelargonium nervosum ‘Torento’ Ginger Pelargonium nervosum Lime Pelargonium odoratissimum, Apple Pelargonium quercifolium, Pelargonium Almond Pelargonium scabrum ‘M. Ninon’ Apricot Pelargonium scarboravia Strawberry Pelargonium tomentosum ‘Chocolate Joy’ Chocolate-mint Pelargonium tomentosum Peppermint Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Nutmeg’ Nutmeg Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Old Spice’ Old Spice Philadelphus ‘Fallbrook’, ‘Galahad’ Mock Orange Philadelphus microphyllus Small-leaved Mock Orange Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Glacier’ Dwarf Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Japanese Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Mock Orange Pittosporum undulatum, Victorian Box Plumeria (tree) Polianthes tuberosa, Tuberose (Bulb) Portulandia grandiflora Primula florindae, the Tibetan Primrose Prospero & Golden Celebration - David Austin Roses Psoralea pinnata Quisqualia indica, Rangoon Creeper Reseda odorata Mignonette  (Annual) Rhododendron atlanticum fragrance of gardenia and clove Ribes aureum, Golden Currant  Rosas Typhoo Tea Rose, (The Apothecary Rose; deep pink) Rose, Angel Face (floribunda; mauve) Rose, Apricot Nectar (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Arizona (grandiflora; orange blend) Rose, Betty Prior (floribunda; medium pink) Rose, Buff Beauty (Hybrid Musk; apricot blend) Rose, Cathedral (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Chinatown (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Chrysler Imperial (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Command Performance (HT; orange-red) Rose, Comte de Chambord (Portland; pink blend) Rose, Crimson Glory (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Dainty Bess (HT; light pink; single) Rose, Double Delight (HT; red-white bicolor) Rose, Electron (HT; deep pink) Rose, Etoile de Holland (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Evelyn (English; apricot-pink blend) Rose, Fashion (floribunda; orange-pink blend) Rose, Fragrant Cloud (HT; coral red-orange blend) Rose, Fragrant Hour (HT; orange-pink blend) Rose, François Dubreuil (Tea; dark red) Rose, Friendship (HT; deep pink) Rose, Granada/Donatella (HT; red-yellow blend) Rose, High Hopes (climber; med. pink) Rose, Intrigue (floribunda; mauve blend) Rose, Ispahan (Damask; medium pink) Rose, Jacques Cartier (Portland; light pink) Rose, Jadis (HT; pink) Rose, Just Joey (HT, orange blend) Rose, Lemon Spice (HT; pale yellow) Rose, Love (Gr.; red blend) Rose, Marechal Niel (cl. Noisette; softest yellow) Rose, Mirandy (HT; garnet red) Rose, Mister Lincoln (HT; dark red) Rose, Nuage Parfumé (HT; also cl.; coral-orange-red blend) Rose, Oklahoma (HT; deep red) Rose, Papa Meilland (HT; deep crimson) Rose, Perfume Delight (HT; medium pink) Rose, Rosa gallica officinalis/duplex Rose, Rosa gallica versicolor (Gallica; striped pink) Rose, Rosa x damascena bifera (Damask, Rose of Castile; m. pink) Rose, Royal Amethyst (HT; lavender) Rose, Saratoga (floribunda; white) Rose, Sheer Bliss (HT; white/pink blend) Rose, Simplicity (floribunda; light pink) Rose, Spanish Sun (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Spartan (floribunda; orange-red blend) Rose, Sunsprite (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Sutter’s Gold (HT; orange blend) Rose, Sweet Surrender (HT; silvery med. pink) Rose, Tiffany (HT; pink blend) Rose, White Lightnin’ (GR; white) Rose, Wild Spice (shrub) Rosmarinus officinalis Salvia clevelandii Salvia clevelandii 'Aromas' Salvia clevelandii/Cleveland Sage Salvia elegans, Pineapple Sage Salvia melissodora Grape-scented Sage Sarcococca Hookeriana Humilis Sarcococca rustifolia Scentimental, Hybrid Tea Solandra maxima Sombreuil climbing antique Stephanotis floribunda Sweet Afton Sweet Chariot - miniature "hanging basket" rose Syringa microphylla 'Superba' Tagetes nelsonii, Citrus Marigold Telosma cordata, Pakalana Vine Thornless Honey Locust-Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis Tilia cordata, Little Leaf Linden Trachelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine Ugni molinae, Chilean Guava Umbellularia californica California Bay Laurel (tree) Verbena x hybrida ‘Defiance,’ Defiance Verbena Viburnum carlesi 'Compactum' Viburnum Carlesii (clove scent) Viburnum, Korean Spice Viola Odora Weigela florida 'Variegata nana' Wild clover, Melilotus alba Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox Wisteria