Martin Fish is picking primulas for delightful displays
They make delightful displays on their own or in a larger posy
It’s great when the first primroses of the season start to open in the garden and countryside, and it’s a sign that spring is fast on its way. The primula family is very large and there are many different types, including candelabra and auricula primulas. There’s also the primrosepolyanthus group, which are hugely popular in gardens through the spring months. Many of the brightly coloured varieties in garden centres now originate from Primula vulgaris (wild primrose) and Primula veris (cowslip) and in some parts of the country these still grow in abundance.
I remember as a child going on family walks and picking the flowers from these spring beauties – in the days when you were allowed to – and taking them home to put in water in an egg cup. To this day I still love to see them growing in the wild, but of course I don’t pick them now!
Although primulas might not seem an obvious cut flower, they look really pretty in the house either as a small bunch on their own or in a mixed and more elaborate arrangement with a few snowdrops and stems of evergreen foliage from the garden. Of course, they also make excellent garden and container plants, meaning you can enjoy them outside first, before then pinching a few flowers for the house!
The selection available from nurseries and garden centres is huge and ranges from very pale, wild primrose-looking flowers to bright, colourful doubles. Primula varieties tend to have each flower carried on a slender, short stalk, whereas polyanthus have a cluster of flowers at the top of a thicker, longer stem. All types can be used and should be picked when the flowers are almost fully open.
Try to cut as much stem as possible before placing your posies in little glass bottles for sweet spring table decorations.