Harbingers of Spring

Many grocery stores are starting to feature displays of little plants with brightly colored flowers and “primrose” labels stuck in the pots. The price is so reasonable and the flower colors so varied (they come in reds, blues, yellows, oranges, purples or pinks) that it’s hard to resist buying more than one.

 

Unfortunately, the pretty flowers often die in a week or so once we have them at home. Why does this happen? Most primroses are found in mild, wet climates. Primulaceae, the name of this plant family, is from the Latin primus, meaning first. From the Italian, fior di prima verae, “the first flower of spring,” the name evolved into primaverola, then into the French, primevere, and finally our English “primrose.” The European species of Primula flower early and are harbingers of spring. Primroses that grow wild in the mountains of North America and Asia wait until late spring or early summer, when the snow has melted.

 

The polyantha primroses, the “gift plants” sold through mass marketing are relatively new to cultivation. Growers used the wide color range, early bloom and compact habit of the garden primrose and interbred them to make the profitable plant we see today in garden centers and grocery stores. These plants bloom in 4 months or less from seed in cool commercial greenhouses.

 

Polyantha primroses are easy to keep blooming well indoors for a number of weeks if you provide consistent moisture, good light and cool temperatures. These are the same conditions in which they thrive in the wild. In a winter-dark, overheated home it’s not surprising that they soon collapse, the flowers brown and shriveled.

 

When you buy your primrose check at the base of the leaves to see how many flower buds are present. This is the basis of future bloom. When you bring the plant home, remove the decorative wrapping or foil from the outside of the pot. You can discard it or punch holes in the bottom for drainage before using it to redecorate the pot. Find a bright, cool (50-65 degrees F) place for the plant. An eastern exposure in a cool room is ideal. In this case, keeping a cool house in the winter is a definite advantage! Fertilizer shouldn’t be necessary for a month or more since the grower will have used plenty to provide for lots of buds and bloom. When they’ve finished blooming keep the plants alive indoors and then plant them out in April or May. If you choose a suitable spot in the garden they should give you pleasure for years to come.

 

Primroses are shade and moisture loving plants. A cool, partly shady spot away from tree roots (primroses may not compete well with tree roots for moisture) is a good choice. If primroses become too dry in the summer they will either lose their leaves and go dormant, or develop a woody rootstock, diminishing their strength and hardiness. Newly planted primroses should bloom the following spring in late March or early April.

 

Primroses don’t always bloom just in spring. I’ve noticed the last few years that I get some sporadic bloom in late November or even early December. In fact, I was tucking a few last-minute bulbs into the ground the week after thanksgiving last year right next to some blooming primroses! I’m a real sucker for early and late bloom that helps shorten the long, cold winter. Any plant that can provide both, with relatively little care in between, is definitely a winner in my book!

 

Call the UNH Cooperative Extension's Family, Home & Garden Education Center's Info-Line toll-free at 1-877-3984769 for "Practical Solutions to Everyday Questions." Trained volunteers are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2 pm .

By Margaret Hagen, UNH Cooperative Extension Educator, Hillsborough County