photography: Lynn Karlin
Visit our [LINK "Primrose photo gallery" "http://www.cottageliving.com/cottage/homes/slideshow/0,28195,1706125,00.html"] to see the amazing variety of shapes, sizes, and colors found in this spring bloomer. |
Want to wade through an ocean of primroses outside your home? Plantsman Kris Fenderson does this every spring, when waves of colorful cowslips, oxlips, and drumsticks carpet his northern New Hampshire woodland garden. There's just something so seductive about this low-growing bloomer with bright, notice-me little flowers that signal spring is finally around the corner. Available in the full color spectrum from fiery yellows and oranges to reds and purples, primroses come in droves from early spring to early summer and stay in bloom for weeks. Follow Kris' simple tips and you, too, can enjoy this cheerful blossoming plant.
What Primroses Want
Primroses are hardy old classics that are easy to grow, even for beginners. Find a spot in your garden that meets these criteria, and get planting.
photography: Lynn Karlin
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Zones
Nearly all will do. Cold is no problem for primroses, but heat can cramp their style. Generally they thrive in zones 4-8 (though some varieties, like many auriculas, do well in frigid conditions) but none like really hot weather, so growing them where summers are stifling (like the Deep South) can be a challenge. When gardeners in zone 8 and warmer regions treat primroses as winter annuals, they can tackle the tender varieties such as German primrose (P. obconica), fairy primrose (P. malacoides), and Chinese primrose (P. sinensis). Light
Primroses do best in lightly shaded areas, such as under a diffused canopy of trees, as they can dry out and especially need shade and moisture during warmer months. However, they dislike competition from shallow-rooted mature trees.
Planting
Start seeds indoors under lights, or you can also directly sow seeds or set out transplants in early spring when daytime temps reach 40-50 degrees. Once established, plants will set seed and naturalize in shady areas. After they bloom, routine mowing further disperses the seeds, increasing the number of plants. Every third spring, dig up, divide, and replant offsets. (Dividing encourages longevity.) Purchase primroses while they're in bloom to guarantee the flower color and style.
Soil
Primroses love rich soil and organic matter like compost or well-aged manure.
Water
Most primroses require damp but not soggy conditions. Moisture is a must—they can't tolerate drought. Provide supplemental water during hot, dry spells.
Common Primrose Questions
1. Can I grow ones from a home-and-garden center outside?
Decorative primroses such as German primrose (Primula obconica), fairy primrose (P. malacoides), 'Pacific Giant' polyanthus, and double-petaled 'Sweetheart' polyanthus are best grown as cool greenhouse plants or winter annuals in zones 8 and above. So unless you live in a very warm region, probably not.
photography: Lynn Karlin
Tubs punctuate forks in the paths, and this one holds a band
of ÔGrout Hill VioletÕ auricula primroses. (Kris introduced this robust strain.)
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2. Can I grow primroses in containers?
Of course, but because they prefer consistent moisture you'll need to watch them carefully to avoid drying them out. Those new moisture crystals available at home-and-garden centers can help. 3. What goes with primroses?
Shade-loving ground covers such as trilliums, epimediums, ferns, lamiums, hellebores, sweet woodruff, lady's mantle, and forget-me-nots make great companions. If deer aren't on your horizon, hostas can fill in later. For a canopy, Kris is partial to magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese maples, and birch trees that provide light shade. Primroses are also a good choice for the north side of a house.
4. I want fragrance; which primroses are scented?
The most fragrant is P. marginata. Auriculas are a distant second, and then come the more difficult Tibetan and Chinese primroses. The wild P. vulgaris has a light scent.
Find it Fast
Primrose plants, $5Ð$15 each, from Alpines Mont Echo; alpinemtecho.com
Primrose seeds,
$2.74Ð$3.29 per packet,
from Whatcom Seed Company; seedrack.com
