Pretty Primroses

Primula polyanthus in a planter from Campo de Fiori surrounded by moss, a lovely splash of colors indoors when the temperatures outside are frigid.

Springtime is primrose time!   The name primrose comes from the Latin 'prima' which means first and 'rosa' which means rose....so, first rose.  As soon as primroses start showing up at my local grocery store I can not resist.    These classic cottage garden beauties offer a full spectrum of dazzling colors that bring happiness indoors when the temperatures outside are bleak and snow blankets the ground.  I find that they last for quite awhile indoors and by the time they fade the snow has melted, the ground has warmed a bit, and they can be planted outside in your garden to come up year after year.   I have many that I simply bought in the grocery store and they have come up continually for over 15 years in my gardens.  These particular primroses can be grown in zone 3 and up!  Quite hardy!

When the winter snow subsides and the sun begins to warm the soil, the beautiful jewels from the genus Primula emerge!  I have a particular garden in a shaded area where primulas thrive.  Since it is not a naturally damp location I keep it watered when rain is not plentiful.

Primula veris or cowslip which very closely resembles Prumula elatior (oxlip) but the cowslip has smaller bell shaped flowers with red dots inside the flowers with leaves that are more spade shaped.

Primula kisoana, a Japanese variety spreads very easily and creates beautiful pink groupings throughout the garden.  Mine were a gift from Sydney Eddison when I visited her private gardens.  I will treasure them always.

Primula polyanthus planted with violets and hellebores.  They come up every year and need dividing once in awhile.

Primula japonica and Primula sieboldii foliage just emerging while Primula kisoana and Primula veris are blooming along with the hellebores in the early spring garden.  As you can see, Primula japonica spreads prolifically.  They transplant very easily, thank goodness.  

I was blessed with the chance to visit Sydney Eddison's primrose garden one spring with my mother.  They are the most beautiful gardens I have seen.  She is very talented at naturalizing primulas and combining them with other woodland plants that bring out their beauty. 

Hose in hose form of Primula vulgaris 

Primula vulgaris 'sibthorpii'

Primula vulgaris 'balearica'

Primula veris, or cowslip

Primulas naturalized along a woodland path.

Primula acaulis, a lovely splash of color in the woods to brighten up the woodland path.

Primula sieboldii, a Japanese primrose, is a very elegant flower with beautifully feathered petals.  The foliage is also slightly ruffled.

Primroses have definitely become one of my favorite springtime flowers.  There are so many varieties, colors, and textures.  I have found with the right selection of variety and location they do very well in New England.   For a wonderful discussion on primroses and the various varieties please click on the link below.  I am sure you will enjoy it and may even become a new fan of this lovely early spring  'rose'.

Sydney Eddison talks about primroses