Set the stage with an auricula theatre

Take a tip from the Victorians and put these jewel-bright flowers in the spotlight with a plant theatre, says Louise Curley

IF you are a fan of auriculas, it's likely that you are also familiar with plant theatres - you might even have one yourself. These clever displays became popular during the Victorian period when auriculas were all the rage, their design enabling enthusiasts to showcase the exquisite beauty of this member of the primula family by bringing the plants up to eye level.

A plant theatre consists of a series of shelves, protected from the elements with a roof; it can be freestanding or hung like a cabinet on an outdoor wall.

The open shelves provide good air circulation while the roof keeps off the rain, which can wash away the white powdery coating - known as farina - on the leaves and petals of some auriculas.

Fine heritage

Dating back to the mid-19th century, the plant theatre at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, a country house estate owned by the National Trust, is believed to be the oldest example in the country. And although it is large standing several metres tall and wide, and featuring eight shelves - you don't need a lot of space to have your own.

In doing so, you will be following the example of the millworkers and miners who grew and displayed certain flowers (including pinks, anemones, old English tulips and auriculas) to a strict set of standards in the 18th and 19th centuries, in industrial towns in Scotland, the north of England and the Midlands, forming florists' societies in order to share ideas and meet fellow growers.

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