By Julie Boudreau
I’ve probably already mentioned somewhere on this blog that I really like primroses! Spring being my favorite season, primroses are so cute and their blooming charms me. And, like many plants that fascinate me, primroses have become a subject of study! I have sown and planted many species and have made some great discoveries.
During my studies, we were constantly told that primroses were not worth the effort. They were plants with a short life expectancy, barely hardy in Quebec province. They were common flowering plants that we buy at Easter and throw away on Mother’s Day. Luckily, I came across great mentors who showed me quite the opposite, by introducing me to endless lists of primroses. Rustic, faithful and splendid!
You should know that they are mainly spring flowering plants. My earliest varieties flower at the same time as the daffodils, around the end of April for the Montreal region. Most bloom in May and some last into June. They are therefore very interesting for bringing color in spring. And they go well with bulbs!
The plant produces a rosette of leaves that often resemble romaine lettuce leaves. It is in the center of this foliage that the flowers will appear, either very close to the foliage or carried on stems of varying length.
Most primroses have a preference for partially shaded locations, in a very rich soil full of organic matter. They also like it of the soil is cool all year round. However, among these champions which deserve our attention, there are several species that grow surprisingly well at the foot of trees and conifers, in rather acidic and dry soil. We will mention this in passing below.
THE Easy-to-find Primrose
The easiest variety to find is the ‘Pacific Giant’ primrose (Primula x polyantha ‘Pacific Giant’). The flowers are always brightly colored with a yellow center. It is sold as a flower pot on Valentine’s Day and Easter. Then, we find them in the perennial section at the garden center. Charming and cheerful, that cannot be denied. Unfortunately, my personal experience has led me to declare it the worst primrose for Quebec gardens. If it does not behave like an annual plant, it dies in a couple of years. It rarely reaches the legal age to enter four years old kindergarten.
Some Species that we Occasionally Encounter
Some more daring businesses will also offer Drumstick primrose (P. denticulata) and we want that one! Perfectly hardy in zone 4, this small variety grows very well in ordinary flower beds, even at the base of certain trees and shrubs. The flowers form a small, almost perfect sphere that rises barely 6 inches (15 or 20 cm) above the foliage.
More and more often, we find (finally) another primrose that I find exceptional, the common primrose (P. vulgaris) and its many cultivars. The flowers of this variety develop very close to the foliage. There are numerous hues of color for the flowers, ranging from pure white to bright colors. The leaf rosette reaches 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) wide, and under good conditions the colony enlarges slightly. In height, the plant barely exceeds 8 inches (20 cm). I particularly like ‘Dawn Ansell’ with double white flowers and ‘Traditional Yellows’ with simple, pale-yellow flowers. After flowering, the rosette of leaves remains interesting.
Those that Deserve to be on the Shelves
Here are now some species which are almost absent from the horticultural market, but which are of great interest to the northern gardens of North America. I say almost absent, because, in Quebec, we have a few specialist nurseries who offer interesting varieties, notably Production M. Corbeil and Petit Sabazan.
Let’s start with the Oxlip (P. elatior). This species bears lemon yellow flowers with a darker center which stand, in groups of 10 to 30 flowers, 1 foot (30 cm) above the ground. It’s a beautiful, prolific variety that multiplies by rhizomes. I assure you, I do not know of any primrose that could be considered invasive. The enlargement of the mass of leaves is rather welcome. This is an exceptional variety that grows well under a large spruce tree and in shadier locations. I grow it in three different locations in my garden and it has lasted for over 15 years.
Among the very small covering primroses, P. juliae and its varieties are also worthy of mention. The ‘Wanda’ variety with magenta flowers is the easiest to find. We are talking about a plant 6 inches (15 cm) high and approximately 18 inches (45 cm) wide. It’s an early bloomer.
Some time ago I praised my alpine plants that have a long life expectancy. That’s when I mentioned a white-throated cowslip (P. auricula var. albocinta). Here it is again! This one prefers sun and very well-drained soil. Ideal for growing in troughs, it also succeeds very well in rather sandy soil. The beautiful lemon yellow flowers with whitish blooms stand on a plant no more than 4 inches (10 cm) high and just as wide.
Siebold’s primrose (P. sieboldii) is also a species to discover. However, for this species, it is important to grow it in soil that remains cool at all times. If this condition is respected, it will give you a dazzling spectacle for many years. The flowering, more often white, mauve or magenta, rises on a long stem 1 foot (30 cm) high. The foliage also has a little something original, a little curly and very toothed.
Finally, I have to mention a whole series of primroses with tiered flowers, called candelabra primroses. The most interesting and easiest to find is the Japanese primrose (P. japonica). The flower scape can reach up to 18 inches (45 cm) in height and the flower scape can carry up to five stages of flowers. Most often, you get two or three. It is often sold in a mix of colors, in shades of pink. It is also a primrose that reseeds itself, if the conditions are optimal, they can form a beautiful clump.
Among the candelabra primroses, I will quickly mention Bee’s primrose (P. beesiana) and powdery primrose (P. pulverulenta), two species with tiered flowers that are also reliable varieties.
With these beautiful, reliable primroses, spring takes on a whole new look. It’s a real delight to see them bloom, long before the tulips come out. They bring essential touches of color to the spring garden. For example, the oxlip flowers at exactly the same time as the forsythias, which makes them a very beautiful duo. I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll find them more and more on garden center shelves in a near future, because they are truly plants worth discovering!
I love primroses but groundhogs eat mine right down to the ground whenever I plant them.
You didn’t mention evening primrose, are they invasive? Which ones should we not be planting?
They are not even available to us (on the West Coast of California). We only have access to the common overly hybridized sort that are used as annuals (which really should be maintained as perennials.)
Now that I think of it, they are like the ‘Pacific Giants’. They are not my favorite because they bloom with such cartoonish colors; but I sometimes notice some with simpler or softer colors. If I were to grow them in my own garden, rather than at work, I would prefer them to grow as perennials rather than annuals.
I love primroses! I only have 5, but am planning to changing that. Your article is most helpful, thank you!
Naturally grown Japanese “candelabra” primroses are delightful, more appealing than the tight primroses featured in grocery stores.
Not only are they faithful rebloomers but they produce adorable babies if the flowers are left to go to seed. But they do best in moist soil. Don’t forget to water over dry summers.!
Do squirrels like them? What about other predators?
Mine have been around my pond for years….nobody has bothered them. The deer ate the hostas right next to them though. Good luck!
Squirrels may occasionally nibble on primroses but typically prefer fruits, seeds, and nuts, though their digging can damage plants inadvertently. Primroses are more commonly targeted by slugs, which eat leaves. In areas with deer or rabbits, these animals might also eat the flowers and foliage of primroses. Additionally, pests like aphids and red spider mites can infest primroses, particularly under stressful environmental conditions, sucking sap and causing foliage to become discolored or distorted.
Over the years I have planted a number of primroses given to me for Mother’s Day – many years later they continue to grace my garden in spring with their intense colour. Thank you for your article