Primula: Primrose
Primroses have been a vibrant addition to woodland gardens and containers for over a century.
Plant care & info
Genus: Primula
Common Name: Primrose, Cowslip
Origin: Around 400 species are found mostly throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
Primroses are woodland dwellers that prefer morning sun, dappled sun, or full shade. They thrive in fertile, well-drained, acidic soil with regular water. The one exception is Primula auricula which prefers alkaline soil
Some species, such as Primula japonica and Primula veris, are wetland dwellers. Others, such as Primula auricula, are mountain species perfect for the rock garden.
The majority of primroses are perennial in the Portland area. Primula malicoides and Primula obconica are delightful, early spring annuals.
Primula vulgaris is often sold along with pansies as color spots and treated as annuals, but has the potential to be a short lived perennial given the right conditions.
Remove yellowing leaves whenever present. Divide older plants after they finish blooming.
Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Possible cut flower or rock garden plant. Long bloom time. Some species tolerate wet soils.
Slugs, snails, root weevil, root rot, botrytis, and powdery mildew can all affect primroses.
Its name is derived from the Italian word for spring, primavera, when this garden favorite is at the height of its bloom.
Primroses combine fabulously with spring bulbs, evergreen grasses, and dusty miller. Some species, such as Primula marginata, are more diminutive and perfect for rock gardens or trough containers. Other species, such as Primula japonica and Primula veris, reseed and create naturalized drifts in the shade garden.
Primroses are divided into three basic categories–candelabra, polyanthus, and evergree,
Candelabra pimrose (Primula capita and Primula japonica) has tiered clusters of 6-8 blooms on 1-2 ½ ‘ stems. They are often short lived, prefer damp soil, and reseed.
Polyanthus primrose (Primula vulgaris and Primula veris) has bunches of flowers on 6-8” stems and bloom in winter and/or early spring. This group includes the common primroses sold as color spots.
The third group is evergreen and heralds from mountainous areas. This includes Primula auricula, which has small clusters of flat topped flowers in a unique range of color. They also have distinctive, thick leaves with a powdery coating on the underside. These types are often grown in pots since they need sharp drainage and lime.
