This plant bears a very soft yellow flower for months on end. Ive had flowers on it in December and a few in January before.
Definitely one of my favourite plants. You just can't beat that for performance, and I absolutely love the colour.
It propagates very easily from cuttings, and it doesn't seem to mind when you take them. I usually take them in late winter - and I mean Jan or Feb, as Ive seen them in full foliage, then being killed by a late frost. I also keep at least a couple of mature plants in pots in the greenhouse over winter, and propagate from them. Success rate is almost 100%
This winter? I lost the lot. I asked my sister if the ones I gave her had survived. No.
On a visit to Simons house (my son - he lives in a more sheltered region that me) I had a look at the plants I had give him (I gave away dozens last year). I found a small bit of greenery on one stem of one plant (all others looked dead)
There was only enough for one cutting, and that looked a bit tatty, and another very tiny fragment, leaving very little greenery on the plant.
I kept a watchful eye on them - almost willing them to strike. I'm delighted to say both took.
I was so surprised that I managed to get that small bit to root. The larger one showed signs of growth sooner, and I see roots emerging from the bottom of the pot (my cue for potting them on)
However, I'll wait a while yet until that little chappie is well established.
I reported my success to Simon, and he gave me a bigger surprise. His plant is still growing!!
Long live 'Jamaica Primrose'
The moral of this story? Don't keep all your eggs in one basket
