Gentle hues of early beauties
From the pale wild flower to more colourful garden varieties, primroses open their delicate blooms to greet the new season
Britain’s wild primroses have pale yellow, occasionally white flowers. They have a light fragrance, reminiscent of freesias. Dusky pink ‘Sibthorpii’ (centre), a 17th century introduction, is the foundation of pink garden primroses.
On a cold day in early spring, a splash of pale colour gleams in the countryside. Enduring frost and rain, the wild primrose has unfurled its delicate flowers, bringing a carpet of yellow to bare woodland floors and shady hedgerows. Found throughout the British Isles, the early flowers of Primula vulgaris are a welcome reward for the first brave bees and butterflies. Their beauty and easy-going nature also means they have been appreciated by gardeners for centuries. Over the years, myriad kinds and colours have been bred to brighten gardens every spring. At this time of year, the low-growing clusters of leaves are almost hidden by the pastel lemon flowers. Growing on 4in (10cm) stalks, their pale pink hairy stems are just long enough to hold the blooms clear of the foliage. Each flower has five petals joined at the base to form a tube. When in bud, a calyx of five leaflike sepals surround the young flowers to protect them. The colour of the wild flowers in Britain is consistently pale gold, although white forms occasionally occur. The coloured primroses grown in borders and planters today have been selected from natural variations found in gardens or deliberately bred. Others have been developed from varieties introduced from abroad. The dusky pink P. vulgaris subspecies rubra was brought from Turkey in 1656 by John Tradescant. More commonly known as ‘Sibthorpii’, this formed the source of pink cultivated primroses. In 1901 Primula juliae arrived from the Caucasus, situated between the Black and Caspian seas. Its neat foliage, with distinct, dark foliage on red stalks, and bright magenta flowers provided a boost for plant breeders. Today, even the pale yellow ‘wild’ primroses sold for gardens may not be exactly the same as the wild flower. Instead they have been selected for their larger flower size.
Flower forms
As well as colour variations, primroses frequently produce intriguing variants that have unusual flower forms. Many of these natural variations do not set seed, so would eventually disappear in the wild. However, lovers of the flowers have cherished and bred them, helping them survive. One variety, the double white ‘Alba Plena’ may date back to 1570. It has been kept alive for 500 years by being carefully divided and nurtured.
Among the prettiest are hose-in-hose forms. In these, the small green calyx is replaced with another set of petals, creating the effect of one flower pushed inside another. The name derives from the way fashionable Elizabethan gentlemen wore their long stockings or hose, one inside the other and with the top of the outer one turned down. Another ancient form is known as Jack-in-the-green. In these, the five small green leaves of the calyx are enlarged, surrounding the open flower like a ruff. These ruffed primroses were highly prized for centuries. Most have disappeared but today are being revived in modern varieties such as the double white ‘Dawn Ansell’. Double primroses have been treasured since the 16th century, when they were known simply by their colours. These exuberant flowerers have a long-blooming period and an enormous colour range. Modern varieties include the deep blue ‘Miss Indigo’ and apricot ‘Sue Jervis’.
Growing primroses
P. vulgaris grows in part shade in almost any soil, provided it is not too dry. They thrive in soil enriched with organic matter
“My sweet primrose with thy open face, And with fringe-like leaves, without a trace Of coarseness, either in flower or stem, Among all my plants thou art the gem.” Joseph Horatio Chant, ‘My Primrose’
including garden compost, well-rotted manure and leafmould. Herbaceous perennials, their flowers appear in their second season when grown from seed. Plants can be planted in bloom in spring. However, planting in autumn gives them time to establish. They tend to form woody, creeping stems along the soil so are planted slightly more deeply than in the pot. If this is not possible, giving them an organic mulch after flowering allows them to root into it. Primroses live for many years. To keep them growing well they should be dug up and divided every two years in the summer after flowering. If this is not done, they get congested and may dwindle away. Double primroses in particular fade away if neglected. They are replanted in soil that has been enriched with garden compost or well-rotted manure.
Care of plants
Primroses are affected by several pests. Leaf hoppers suck the sap from the leaves, especially of seedlings. The pale mottling is usually cosmetic but an insecticide will control them. The most serious pest is vine weevil. The grubs of this dark grey beetle eat the roots and can destroy plants, especially in pots. The first signs are often that the plant looks limp even though the soil is moist. If a leaf is tugged, the plant comes out of the ground. With care, they can be re-rooted and may recover. Watering the soil with a biological control helps combat vine weevil. These nematodes are best applied when the soil is warm, from April to September. With their gentle open faces, primroses, both wild and cultivated, are a welcome harbinger of spring. Delicate and dainty, they are a welcome reminder that winter is over, and warmer days are on their way.
“I saw it in my evening walk, A little lonely flower! Under a hollow bank it grew, Deep in a mossy bower.” Caroline Southey, ‘The Primrose’