The primrose is a small plant ideal and colored at will to accompany the grayness of winter. Vivacious, it reappears each year for the greatest happiness of the gardener.
Primrose, who are you?
The genus Primula is very vast since it includes more than 400 species of herbaceous perennials. Many hybrids have been created from botanical species such as Primula vulgaris, Primula hisuta or Primula auriculata which are the origin of the many cultivars present on the stalls from late autumn.
Primroses have a rosette of frank green leaves from the center of which emerges a stem bearing numerous flowers whose flattened corolla can take on various shades. The heart is very often contrasted with the color of the petals which ensures a beautiful effect. All shades are represented in the primroses, from pure white to red through yellow, pink or orange but also blue and purple. Varieties with two colors or double flowers have also appeared. Enough to make a beautiful collection.
Primrose seedling
If you have patience, it is quite possible to sow your primroses between March and May in a terrine filled with a 'Special Sowing' mixture. Transplant the seedlings at the beginning of summer in individual pots and install your young plants in the garden in the fall.
Planting of primroses
If you prefer to plant primroses purchased in buckets, planting can be done from fall to late winter. Or you can make divisions of your existing old clumps.
- Choose a location in mid-shade in southern regions or in full sun anywhere else.
- Work the soil with crushed horn and well decomposed compost and add a little river sand if your soil is wet and clayey.
- With a planter dig a hole slightly larger than the size of the root ball. Place your plant in the hole and fill it up.
- Pack well around the collar, taking care not to bury it.
- Water.
Maintenance of primroses
Water regularly to help recovery if it doesn't rain enough. Once well established, your primroses will not need to be watered during the bad season.
Watering will resume in the spring and summer.
Remove wilted flowers as you go along to stimulate the growth of new flower buds.
Trim dry leaves.
In the fall, new leaves should appear, so scratch compost at the base of your primroses to stimulate their growth and feed them.
