We love Primroses as a cheerful sign of spring! Bringing a touch of woodland charm to the garden, they are one of the first flowers to bloom and an important nectar source for butterflies.
The name derives from the Latin prima rosa meaning ‘first rose’ of the year, despite not being a member of the rose family.
Primroses thrive in sunny areas or partial shade.
They like rich, well-draining soil and cooler temperatures.
Primroses come in a wide range of colours, we suggest you buy your primroses while they are in bloom to ensure you get the colour you want! They should remain in bloom for several weeks after you take them home and plant them.
Try growing double primroses, they have a very long flowering period and an enormous colour range. There are some stunning rosebud type flowers in a bold mixture of bright colours available, adding interest to the garden in early springtime.
Primroses are extremely versatile and can be planted in beds, borders, containers and even indoors on a cool window sill!
POLYANTHUS
Polyanthus look very much like primroses but instead of having individual flowers on their own stalk growing from the centre of the leaves, polyanthus have a thick stem that carry a bunch of blooms well above the leaves. Otherwise the flowers look much the same and in the same range of colours
