Colorful, cheeky, cheerful – garden primroses
Primrose – the name derives from the Latin word "prima," which means "the first." The name is absolutely fitting – early in the year, the colorfully blooming primroses bring us the first hint of spring into the garden and into the home. Many gardeners know primroses exclusively as a seasonal plant in spring. But this colorful plant can do even more. "There's a suitable primrose species for almost every garden area," enthuses Susanne Peters. The gardener runs a rare plant nursery in Uetersen with her husband. She is fascinated by the variety of flower and growth forms, as well as the sometimes very long flowering periods of primroses. "Primroses bring color to the garden!"
Spring mood
No other plant symbolizes spring quite like the cushion primrose (Primula vulgaris). Cultivated varieties of this species are offered for sale everywhere from January onwards. "What many people don't know is that this primrose is actually hardy," explains Peters. Breeding for large, colorful flowers has caused the plants to lose their excellent winter hardiness. Perennial nurseries stock the much more robust, small-flowered garden varieties. Cushion primroses are particularly well-suited for planting in front of hedges or as individual plants in front of evergreen shrubs. "The intense colors of these primrose species really come into their own here," says Peters. Combining them with white-flowering plants such as Christmas roses (Helleborus), snowdrops (Galanthus), or crocuses (Crocus) is recommended. Double varieties, some of which are reminiscent of roses, are on the rise. Breeding is currently producing a great many attractive plants, reports Peters, although these plants are among the more demanding perennials.
Primrose variety for the garden
"The flower shapes and location preferences of spring-blooming primroses are just as diverse as their flowering times," explains the plant expert. The globe primrose (Primula denticulata), for example, is well-suited for moist, fresh soils. It thrives along streams and in sunny to partially shaded locations. It produces spherical flowers in March and April that appear in shades of white, violet, and crimson, and are even suitable as cut flowers. It looks particularly beautiful when combined with bergenia (Bergenia) or lady's mantle (Alchemilla). The rose primrose (Primula rosea) has a stunning long-distance effect with its vibrant crimson-red, stalked flowers that appear before the leaves appear. It grows to approximately 20 cm tall and thrives best in moist, humus-rich loamy soils. "The carpet primrose (Primula juliae), which only grows to 8 cm tall, is ideal for low borders along garden paths," recommends Peters. In her garden, Peters has combined the perennial plants as a border with hanging bellflowers (C. poscharskyana and C. portenschlagiana). The primroses, which bloom brilliantly from March to April, lie at the feet of winter-blooming Christmas roses (Helleborus niger), while late-blooming saxifrages (Saxifraga cortusifolia) complete the whole, creating a vibrant ensemble. Another advantage of the carpet primrose is that it is almost evergreen and still looks good in winter. Gardeners should ensure that the soil is sufficiently fresh.
Native and suitable for naturalization
The cowslip (Primula veris) is well known as a native forest and meadow plant. "However, wild plants are protected and may not be picked," explains Peters. Beautiful, locally produced specimens are available from perennial nurseries. The cowslip grows to approximately 20 cm tall and forms small, yolk-yellow flower clusters. The individual flowers have orange spots in the throat and emit a delicate apricot scent. They are ideal if you want to create a meadow-like corner of the garden. To maximize the enjoyment of planting them in the lawn, skip the first and second mowing in spring so the plants can settle in undisturbed and recharge their batteries. Cowslips need a humus-rich, cool location that shouldn't be too hot or dry in summer. "In the flowerbed, cowslips combine particularly well with taller plants that sprout later and then cover the foliage of the herbaceous cowslips," advises Peters. Hostas and geraniums are ideal for this. However, care should be taken to ensure that the companion plants don't overgrow. Primroses also look great with wild horned violets (Viola cornuta) or lungworts (Pulmonaria), which complement the yellow with their blue flowers. If the location suits them, primroses will spread through seedlings.
Garden tip
Their diversity and hardiness make primroses a highly recommended garden flower. Their color palette is very broad. With the exception of pure gentian blue, almost all colors can be found among the numerous species and varieties. Planted in larger groups, they create an impressive effect from a distance in a rather gray spring garden. Primroses have high nutrient requirements, as they generally bloom profusely and have lush foliage. Peters recommends fertilizing in the spring. Compost, organic fertilizers (such as horn shavings), and mineral multi-nutrient fertilizers can be used. Dividing the plants every 3-5 years promotes their longevity. "Remove spent seed heads, then the plants won't overseed and will have more strength to produce more flowers," advises Peters. Due to their early flowering, the primrose was considered a symbol of hope, youth, and the healing power of spring. Due to their high saponin content, primrose roots have an expectorant effect and were therefore used to treat respiratory illnesses.
TEXT: GMH/BdS
