60th Articles - Primula Introduction

Foreword to the 60th Edition of Primroses published Winter 2002
By Jay Lunn

The common name, primrose, is used in conjunction with several genera. This contributes to some confusion over the name. For example, some people believe that primroses are the fairly large plants commonly growing in the arid western United States with white or yellow flowers that close by mid-day. These are the evening primroses in the genus Oenothera, not the true primrose. Primroses are in the genus Primula and are unrelated to the former. Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist now known as the “Father of Botany”, published the first description of a Primula, P. elatior (which may have also included what is now know as P. vulgaris) in 1735. His choice of name for the genus is from the Latin prima, which means “first”. It is an appropriate name for the genus with well over 400 species now recognized, many of which are the earliest blooming plants in their native habitat.

You may ask “why do I need primroses in my garden?” Primroses are generally early blooming plants that provide color to the garden when little else has begun to flower. In Pacific Northwest gardens, P. juliae hybrids start blooming in mid-winter and continue through early spring and begin their show in colder regions as soon as the snow melts. Other primroses are slower to begin their floral display, but they will be flowering by late spring or early summer. Primroses do not overpower other plants in the garden but have a charm like few other plants. Be forewarned, once bitten by the “primrose bug” you will forever be smitten.

Most Primula species grow in the cooler and wetter areas of the Northern Hemisphere, with the heaviest concentration in the Himalayas and western China. Some species grow at very high elevations at the edge of glaciers and experience near freezing temperatures most nights. Others grow in somewhat arid regions and are rarely exposed to any temperature near freezing. Most grow in a habitat between these two extremes. As you might suspect, some species are a challenge to grow in a garden setting, while others are very adaptable to cultivation. Many species, particularly those native to Europe, have been cultivated and hybridized for hundreds of years. During this period, innumerable cultivars have been developed and many of these have stood the test of time, particularly in United Kingdom gardens.

Few genera can match the scope of colors exhibited by the genus Primula. Through hybridization and selection of variants of species, the color range of primroses currently available is astronomical. Modern P. auricula hybrids are available in any color imaginable and others like the P. juliae hybrids (P. x juliana & P. pruhoniciana), P. x polyantha and P. sieboldii selections are not far behind. Some species have a very limited color range, but when planted in mass, can produce a spectacular show for the pleasure of the eye.

Providing a moderately rich soil, moisture throughout the growing season, and some protection from the hot sun can satisfy most primroses. Although some respond well to a rich diet, most will maintain their character and get along just as well with limited fertilization. You would be amazed at how well some primroses will perform while growing in pure sand and just a little feeding! None like the full mid-summer sun of low elevation locations at latitudes that are closer to the equator than either pole. Even primroses grown farther from the equator will appreciate a slope facing away from the prevailing sun or at least partial shade, particularly in the afternoon hours.

Primroses are subject to some predation by a few despicable critters. Since they are producing tender morsels early in the season, slugs find them very inviting. Root weevil larva can be a problem in early summer, especially if the adult weevils are not controlled when attracted to other plants in the garden.

In this expanded 60th Edition of Primroses, twelve species or categories of primroses, considered easy to grow by many gardeners in a variety of geographical locations, are examined in detail. Most of these “selected primroses” are very cold hardy. They can be grown in Alaska, Scandinavian countries, interior provinces of Canada and upper Midwest of the U.S., and do so probably better than in the Pacific Northwest, Atlantic coast, England or France. If you live anywhere in California, except right along the Pacific coast, you may find growing some of them a test of your gardening skills. However, Californians are fortunate to be able to grow less hardy primroses in the open garden that many of us would never dream of attempting. We can’t all garden in Scotland where cool, moist summers provide ideal growing conditions, but these 12 will do well for most of you. These are not the appealing little bright colored primroses that are offered by supermarkets and chain stores in early winter. The hardiness of these delightful plants has certainly been bred out of their constitution. Buy these if you wish, but consider them to be annuals. They have been hybridized to grow from seed to a flowering plant in less than a year. If you plant out enough of them, you may find that some will persist for more than one year.

Granted, sources for some of the plants mentioned here are not easy to locate. Some of the named cultivars may be practically impossible to buy, unless that they are being propagated by tissue culture. Those that can be routinely divided can often be obtained from specialty nurseries. All can be grown from seed, but don’t expect those that are hybrids to come true to the parent plant. Seed of all of these “selected primroses” often appear in the seed list of the American Primrose Society seed exchange. Exchange of plant material between Society members can be a good way to obtain hard to find clones. We encourage you to join the Society, learn more about primroses, take advantage of the seed exchange and develop friendships with other members. A membership application is in the back of this publication.

If you have never grown primroses, try a few of these that appear to be right for you. When you find how worthwhile they are in your garden, try a few more. We think you will be pleased!

Photo Credit: Grown and Photo by Mary Kordes