Primrose is a native of the Northern Hemisphere with over four hundred species. The name Primula is from the Latin word for ‘first’ (primus) and is so appropriately named. The foliage grows in a rosette pattern of light to dark green leaves and depending on the variety the leaves will be either downy (hairy) or toothed.

The flowers will grow through the center of the rosette. They are held high on stems that are six to 12 inches tall. The flowers are fantastic, coming in a wide range of colors, some being bi-colored and most with a light perfume fragrance. Some varieties have a single flower on each stem or a cluster of flowers (umbels) per stem. They are tubular and will open either into a funnel or a flat disc shape. These look great in a perennial border, window box, along a stream or Koi pond, tucked between rocks or just naturalized in a woodland setting. You will want to make sure that you plant them in partial shade or they’ll be goners.

The soil must be moist, not soggy and cool with quite a bit of organic matter and you should mulch heavily in the summer to protect them from drying out. Many that you find in your local nursery/garden centers are unnamed cultivars. However if you are looking for ones which have just a bit of a different look they will be named. Ones like, “Pacific Giants’ which have larger flowers than the more common primrose, over two inches wide and growing up to 12 inches tall and are available in a rainbow of colors. For a more compact plant and one that is more heat tolerant than the others, go with the ‘Barnhaven Hybrid’ variety which also comes in an array of bright colors. Or, if you have a very wet area almost boggy, then the Himalayan Primrose with lilac flowers growing in a round floral head two inches wide and up to 12 inches tall is a good choice.

You say you want something really tall in that boggy area? Then Japanese Primrose, which comes in red, white, pink, or crimson, will grow up to two feet tall! Primrose also makes a very nice plant for inside your home blooming for up to three weeks. So, even though they are only spring bloomers, inside or out, primrose are a beautiful choice.

Oh, and before I forget, this is April and now is the time to get out your fertilizer (I use ‘Hollytone’). Read the label and feed all your evergreen and acid loving trees and shrubs. You should also be cutting back your ornamental grasses, rose bushes and crape myrtle.”

Remember – there can never be enough flowers, so enjoy!