Designed to be used by both gardeners and botanists, this book describes all the 425 species of primula, presenting a major modern revision of this important genus. A description for each species is given together with accounts of its taxonomy, evolution, ecology, distribution, breeding behaviour, variation, hybridization, cultivation and garden history. In addition there are introductory chapters on the history of the exploration and cultivation of the genus, on cultivation, on the evolutionary history of primula, and its special features.