I've had this plant for years but can't remember what it is. It dies back completely in winter, and looks like a primula but is suspiciously robust and reliable for that family. Can anyone give it a name?
Primula vulgaris? Link1. Link2 Links are to a photo and a drawing, which most resembled your plant. But a google search for just "primula vulgaris" turned up a lot of photos that didn't resemble your flower. Hence the question mark. If so, grows wild in Devon, Cornwall, and so might be more hardy than those found at your local grocery. :) Harry
Has inflorescence structure and flower shape like Primula japonica--not that I think that's what it is--rather than P. vulgaris type.
Paging through Perennials Vol. 1 Early Perennials by Phillips and Rix, the closest match to my eyes seems to be the Primula X pruhonicensis group.
It looks like a Primula elatior hybrid. The true perennial primula's are quite robust and vigorous. It is the polyantha crosses that are tender and tempermental - though I find the purple ones to be relatively hardy - I always plant them out to give them a chance of coming back. Usually, they disappear but I have three sheltered purple ones that have returned for several years. I don't think I have the one in your picture - may I have a piece? :-)
WCG, one of the reasons I thought it was time to finally give this poor plant a name was because I thought I could offer some of it for trade, so of course a piece can be put on the trading table... I guess my photo does not clearly indicate how low to the ground the plant is, probably ruling out japonica. That photo of vulgaris is pretty close, Harry, thanks, and I appreciate the other suggestions from more expert eyes. The reason I keep thinking that this might not be a primula is that it simply won't die no matter how badly I treat it, and believe me I have killed 'em all: frondosa, secundiflora, viallii, capitata, denticulata, bulleyana... painful to read, eh? But a few have survived my care, and I guess I will count this one among them. Thanks for all the help.
It looks like Lady Greer. The Primula Society is having a show and sale at Van Dusen on April 8th. (I think that is the right date) Someone there could probably tell you if it is Lady Greer because it is an old, well known cultivar.
A search for Lady Greer brings up several of the names suggested previously - x pruhonica, eliator... and is a pretty close match from the pictures, other than the height issue again. But maybe the height will change; I will observe more closely. The funny thing is, I keep waiting for a suggestion to unleash some memory of what name the plant might have had when I bought it, but continue to draw a blank with all that's been said. The flaw is likely with my memory! Nevertheless, I am far ahead of where I was when I posed the query. My search for Lady Greer brought up this page with some lovely photos of some lovely plants: http://freespace.virgin.net/kate.almond/Ex04.htm
Love that website, you should check out the rest of the Scottish Rock Garden Society website - they have pictures of all the winners from all the various shows.
Speaking of "suspiciously robust" Primula's...here is a picture of an unnamed yellow primula in my garden that is extremely robust and vigorous. I have it all over the place now and I began with just a small division a few years back. It grows happily from even a tiny division. The purple primula in the second picture is a Wanda. It is somewhat slower growing but returns reliably. WCG