When spring arrives, one of the showiest plants in the garden is the primrose. This perennial comes in more than 400 varieties, and it's one of the first plants to bloom in the spring.
Botanically, they're called primula because they're the first flowers to grace gardens with their colorful blooms in early spring. Primroses are the perfect perennials for borders because they grow in clumps that eventually spread. They grow best in Zones 3 to 8 and prefer rich, organic, well-drained soil.
Primroses look best when planted in clusters. The flower heads come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. The one common trait they have is a rosette of leaves at the base. Check out 'Fairy' primrose, which is very fragrant. If you prefer larger blooms, look for primrose 'Obicanica', which is considered a self-seeding annual.
Primroses grow indoors in the winter, too. Just provide a brightly lit room with temperatures in the mid-60s and lots of humidity. You can increase the humidity by setting the plant on a tray of pebbles and misting the leaves. When the weather warms up, you can move the plant outdoors.
Outside, give primroses a cool, moist location with dappled sunlight. Keep them well watered and feed them every once in awhile, and they will give you blooms for a couple of weeks.
)
)
