Primroses That Live
Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a retail nursery located in Bryn Mawr, PA, specializing in showy, colorful, and unusual plants for shade. The only plants that we ship are snowdrops and miniature hostas. For catalogues and announcements of events, please send your full name, location, and phone number (for back up use only) to carolyn@carolynsshadegardens.com. Click here to get to the home page of our website for catalogues and information about our nursery and to subscribe to our blog.
‘Belarina Nectarine’ double primrose
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This weekend Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is holding its second open house sale of the season, and one of the featured plants is primroses. Primroses are a hard sell to gardeners because, as my customers always tell me, they’ve tried primroses and they don’t come back. I usually begin my defense of the hardiness of primroses by asking if they bought the brightly colored varieties often sold in supermarkets and other big box type stores in early spring. We have all done it, who can resist? Unfortunately, those primroses are not suited to our climate and really shouldn’t be marketed as perennials. There are, however, many lovely primroses that come back every year. Here are just a few:
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Cowslip primroses are very easily grown in part shade and average soil without supplemental watering. They produce a 6 to 12″ stem topped by nodding, fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers in midspring.
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Cowslip primrose, Primula veris, with spring starflower and perennial forget-me-not.
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English primrose ‘Old Brick Reds’, P. x polyantha, is very easy to grow in average soil and part shade, multiplying rapidly. The scarlet red flowers with a yellow eye can appear as early as the end of March and last into May. The rosette of wintergreen leaves is bright green. ‘Old Brick Reds’ is a 17th century heirloom primrose given to me by one of my classmates at the Barnes Arboretum. Paired here with fern-leafed corydalis, C. cheilanthifolia.
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Primula kisoana is so rare that it does not appear to have a common name, but that doesn’t mean it is hard to grow. It spreads by underground runners to form patches of velvety, unusually shaped leaves topped by many bright pink flowers in April and May. It doesn’t mind dry soil and has creeped out of the amended beds where I planted it to colonize the edges of the rocks along my woodland path.
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Even rarer is the white-flowered form, P. kisoana ‘Alba’.
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Japanese primroses, P. japonica, come in many different shades from pure white to dark magenta held on 20″ stems and set off beautifully by their 10″ long bright green leaves. The flowers are candelabra form which means that they bloom successively in tiers one over the other for a long period of time in May and June. They are very easy to grow and self-sow readily as long as you plant them in a moist or wet area. They will grow in average soil but will die as soon as you have a drought. I am not sure where I got this photo or I would give proper credit.
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One of the many forms of Japanese woodland primroses, P. sieboldii, that I have collected over the years.
Japanese woodland primroses (not to be confused with the Japanese primroses described above) are a wonderful addition to the garden because they grow in full dry shade but also thrive in average or even moist soil. They are from Asia and have been cultivated in Japan since the 16th century but are rare in the US. Reportedly over 500 cultivars have been named, and I see how they can become addictive because I keep adding new forms to my garden. They bloom in April and May in colors from white to pink to purple and everything in between. The crinkly green leaves form large patches and effectively block weeds even though they go dormant when it gets hot out.
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The flowers of Japanese woodland primrose often have a different color “reverse” (back), here white with lavender pink.
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They also can have filigreed edges kind of like a doily for a lovely dainty effect.
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The earliest to bloom in my garden is pure white ‘Snowflake’.
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This is the straight species and is one of my favorites. Local readers should make an effort to see Japanese woodland primrose blooming in my garden because the photos don’t do justice to their beauty. They are located under the tree below the birdhouse.
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‘Belarina Valentine’ double primrose
Even though they look delicate, the Belarina Series of double primroses has proven to be reliably perennial in my garden. They bloom in late April and May, and the leaves are just emerging right now. I have sited them in an east-facing location between stepping stones under a Japanese maple. The soil probably does not dry out because of the stones and the heavy mulch of leaves and pine needles. If you are looking for a colorful primrose like the non-hardy grocery store varieties, these showy double primroses are just what you want.
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‘Belarina Pink Ice’ double primrose
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‘Belarina Cobalt Blue’ double primrose
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‘Belarina Nectarine’ double primrose
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Many of these primroses will be available at the open house sale at Carolyn’s Shade Gardens this Saturday, April 13, from 10 am to 3 pm. The rest will be for sale as they come up because I grow most of them myself. Readers who are not local now know which reliably perennial primroses to ask for at their local nursery.
Carolyn
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Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a retail nursery located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, US, zone 6b. The only plants that we mail order are snowdrops and miniature hostas and only within the US.
If you are within visiting distance and would like to receive catalogues and information about customer events, please send your full name and phone number to carolynsshadegardens@verizon.net. Subscribing to my blog does not sign you up to receive this information.
Nursery Happenings: Our open house sale featuring early spring-blooming shade plants takes place this Saturday, April 13, from 10 am to 3 pm. If you are a customer, you should have gotten an email with all the details. If you can’t come to an event, just email to schedule an appointment to shop. Coming up next is our Great Hosta Blowout where we sell desirable hostas at bargain prices—look for an email.
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CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS 
April 10, 2013 at 8:05 pm
You can’t beat a beautiful selection of Primula. Yours look really health. Every garden should have at least a few.
April 11, 2013 at 6:50 am
Angie, I have many other primroses that I didn’t show because they are rare and not available. They are one of my favorite plant groups. Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Great post Carolyn. I love Primrose and especially love your doubles. I have not seen them for sale up here. My favorite is ‘Belarina Cobalt Blue’, gorgeous color. Maybe when I am down in May, I will be bringing some home with me????
April 11, 2013 at 6:51 am
Donna, They will all be gone on Saturday at the open house sale. Do you want me to save you one? Carolyn
April 14, 2013 at 7:41 am
Whoops, too late to reply. I can always get them up here. Thanks anyway.
April 10, 2013 at 8:50 pm
You have piqued my interest in primroses, Carolyn! These are gorgeous. Were I closer I would certainly visit your open house.
April 11, 2013 at 6:52 am
Pbm, Watch out, they are addictive. Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Hi Carolyn… I’m glad i checked my in box and found your primula post.. I planted several of these doubles last spring and am pleased that they came through the winter very well. Your post was a nice way to get my mind off what’s going on outside… I did a post this morning about our ice… it was for the most part pretty then, but it’s now devestation and the freezing rain is predicted to continue another 12 hours. One thing is likely… I’ll have room for those new magnolias I’ve ordered… the part that upsets me the most is the birch walk… at this point they are all bent to the ground and the wind is becoming a problem… I could well lose them all but will have to wait and see what happens. My pines are damaged the most with the large norway spruces not far behind if the ice continues. Most of the Amelanchier canadensis is broken off at ground level. The various fastigiate pines and oaks are all in tough shape as well, although not necesarily entirely broken yet. … and to think… I thought this was going to be a great spring… we have temps predicted in the lower 40’s for the next ten days and no sun.
Larry
April 11, 2013 at 6:55 am
Larry, I am so sorry. I have been through a winter (not a spring) like that and you feel so helpless sitting inside hearing the cracking. Here it was almost 90 degrees yesterday and in the mid 80s the two days before, and I was sad watching the magnolias come into bloom and start to shrivel. I will visit your site shortly. Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 9:13 pm
I have wondered if they will survive our summer heat and, usually drought, here in Upstate SC? We can often top 100 degrees in July and August with no rain in sight and though I water, still some things will not make it. I love Primroses but worry I would be issuing them a death sentence. And, my shade is often sandy soil or the ‘Georgia red clay’.
April 11, 2013 at 6:59 am
HRF, It is very hot in the summer here in suburban Philadelphia though a little less than Georgia. In a recent July I think it was over 90 most days and 95 for 20 days. We reach 100 degrees many times but the primroses don’t seem to care. The Japanese woodland primroses are dormant then so they don’t care—maybe you should start with them. Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Hi Carolyn, a nice collection of Primrose. It’s hard not to grab just the Sieboldii when you see them in bloom — is their a bad version of the Sieboldii? But you didn’t mention my favorite which is just the common Primula vulgaris which runs wild in English pastures. I find that it flowers so early and so densely that it almost looks like it’s prepping for the flower shows.
April 11, 2013 at 7:00 am
John, I don’t have that one and haven’t seen it around here. Could you send a photo? Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Your primroses are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for the many wonderful photos that are quite inspiring. I have cowslip primroses growing and this year I am trying to propagate them from seed. The results are yet to be seen.
April 11, 2013 at 7:01 am
Charlie, They are extremely easy to divide. All mine in the garden and the plants I sell started from one plant given to me by a kind customer. Carolyn
April 10, 2013 at 11:14 pm
Love primroses! I have grown P. vulgaris and P. veris from seed to remind me of English woodland walks of my childhood. Over here I have found both the Primabella and Belarina series are reliably perennial as is the little ‘Wanda’
April 11, 2013 at 7:03 am
Karen, I don’t have the straight species P. vulgaris although I would like to as you are the second reader to mention it. I think the Belarina primroses are vulgaris but not sure. Carolyn
April 11, 2013 at 10:30 am
The true vulgaris is the simple single soft yellow flower. It grows wild in the UK. The basal foliage forms hosta sized clumps which are easy to divide.
April 11, 2013 at 7:17 am
Every time you send out a blog with such gorgeous photos I think I must have some of those! I am so hooked! C
Charlotte Lindley Martin
http://www.charlottelindleymartin.com
martinsc705@gmail.com
April 11, 2013 at 7:36 am
Charlotte, I am glad you are enjoying the blog, but I think you were hooked before I even started it!!! Carolyn
April 11, 2013 at 8:49 am
Primulas are one of my favourite families of plants, there seem to be so many different sorts, something for every situation. Fortunately I have found lots of varieties that like my heavy clay and the bog garden particularly is full of candelabra primulas and others that like to paddle in the water! You have a lovely selection in your garden, I haven’t seen P. kisoana alba before, must look it up and see if it would like conditions in my woodland !!
April 11, 2013 at 9:45 am
Pauline, I think you are far ahead of us with primroses in England. I wish I had your selection. Carolyn
April 11, 2013 at 9:43 am
I have never tried to grow primroses, because of their reputation of being an annual. But, these are so pretty!!! I am a bit surprised, but delighted, to read in the comments that you think they could handle our heat, too! Now just to find the right spot for them! 😉 Good luck with your sale on Saturday.
April 11, 2013 at 9:48 am
Holley, I know that these primroses can handle the extreme heat we have experienced in Philadelphia over the last 10 years. I would recommend that you look into zones before you try them in Texas. Carolyn
April 11, 2013 at 1:29 pm
How beautiful the primroses are!! I had no idea that there are soooo many varieties. I bought for my mother-in-law a purple one and has never stopped blooming. So hardy and delicate looking.
April 12, 2013 at 8:22 am
I adore primrose but I can’t be tempted any longer. I have a pond, I have bog and one would think I could grow them! They last a few years and then they just disappear. Friends who have colonies of them are much envied by me!
April 16, 2013 at 6:46 am
Jayne, Have you tried Primula japonica at the edge of your pond or in your bog. That is its favorite habitat. Carolyn
April 12, 2013 at 9:01 am
So many pretty primroses! It is hard to find plants like the Japanese woodland primrose here. I love the simple white ‘Snowflake’.
April 16, 2013 at 6:47 am
Jennifer, Arrowhead Alpines in Michigan sells very nice P. sieboldii mail order. I don’t know if they ship to Canada. Carolyn
April 12, 2013 at 9:39 am
Carolyn,
You’ve done gardeners a great service by creating this collection of reliable primrose plants. This post does everything a good garden blog should do – it’s informative, helpful, and inspirational. The only information missing, for the benefit of readers gardening in colder climates, is mention of USDA growing zones for each plant.
April 16, 2013 at 6:49 am
Allan, I write my posts based on my own experience of the plants in question in the mid-Atlantic area of the US. I don’t want to advise gardeners in other zones and climates about growing specific plants and leave it to them to research whether the plant will work in their area. Carolyn
April 12, 2013 at 7:01 pm
I’ve been wanting to learn more about primroses and this post is very informative,,thanks Carolyn!
April 16, 2013 at 6:50 am
Paula, Glad you enjoyed it. Carolyn
April 12, 2013 at 7:09 pm
I love those primroses as there are so many and a few I have. I even have the big box store ones that do grow here…but I love that first one at the top of the post.
April 16, 2013 at 6:51 am
Donna, I think the grocery store primroses can’t take our hot summers. I guess they like upstate NY. Carolyn
April 12, 2013 at 11:21 pm
I planted several of the species primroses in my garden, not expecting anything of them and I still will be surprised if they survive the summer to return next year. But I am hooked! They have grown and bloomed beautifully, maybe because of the wet, cold weather that persisted for months, but certainly worth it!
April 16, 2013 at 6:52 am
Deb, There are primroses for every soil condition from wet to dry so you should be able to grow them. Try P. sieboldii. Carolyn
April 13, 2013 at 8:56 am
Carolyn, I am not surprised that the the Primrose is amongst your favourite group of plants, considering the ones which you show us today. The Cowslip looks terrific along with the Brunnera.
April 16, 2013 at 6:53 am
Allistair, You have a much wider selection of primroses available in the UK, many of which can’t be grown here because it gets too hot. Carolyn
April 14, 2013 at 9:05 am
I’ve always thought of primroses as being quintessentially British, about a month ago they were all we had. I’ve never heard of the Japanese, double or rare varieties … and if they live forever, even better.
April 16, 2013 at 6:54 am
Bag, I think of primroses as being quintessentially British too but us colonials try them too :-). Carolyn
April 14, 2013 at 10:25 am
some beautiful primroses Carolyn, I love our british native primroses and thankfully they like my garden and self-seed, I have heard of P.sieboldii but until reading your post knew nothing about, I hadn’t thought of looking for it ………. until now! if they grow in dry shade they might grow under my pines, the british bluebell and primula vulgaris like it there, thanks, Frances
April 16, 2013 at 6:56 am
IT, You should research growing P. sieboldii in your climate before investing in it, but it is very tough and takes dry. Carolyn
April 18, 2013 at 2:41 pm
thanks Carolyn I will, Frances
April 14, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Ooh! That Cobalt Blue is just lovely. So many, some look like Begonias.
April 16, 2013 at 6:57 am
Bridget, Cobalt Blue is so popular that I actually have never managed to plant it in my garden—it always sells out at my nursery. Carolyn
April 15, 2013 at 7:44 am
What a great selection of primroses you have and how I wish you mail ordered! I ordered seed of the japonica and I wonder if it is too late to sow them this year as I think they need cold treatment in order to germinate. Any thoughts?
I have Sieboldii but would be buying more from you if I lived nearby (along with many others!). I had not heard of kisoana so thanks for enlightening me. Love it in the white form.
April 15, 2013 at 8:02 am
Terry, Glad you liked the primroses. I have not grown P. japonica from seed because it self sows in my garden. Carolyn
April 15, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Oh-oh. I am guilty of that grocery store primrose thing. What a shock to read about all these variations. Like Bridget I love the cobalt blue. Thanks for the education Carolyn.
April 16, 2013 at 6:58 am
Linnie, It took me many failures in the garden to resist permanently those early, showy primroses. Carolyn
April 16, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Love the “Belarina Nectarine’. So many different varieties to choose from. Do they survive in zone 5?
April 17, 2013 at 6:44 am
Carolyn, Evidently they are hardy to zone 4 although I don’t know anything about growing them anywhere but here. More info: http://www.skagitgardens.com/_ccLib/downloads/FIN_GDNNOTE_PRIMULABelarinas.pdf. Carolyn
April 25, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Once again I wish we were closer. Love those Belarina primroses, I don’t think I could pick a favorite. I am not sure if it is too warm here in SC for primroses.
April 25, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Janet, The Belarinas, which are a form of the English primrose P. vulgaris, are lovely. Don’t know about primroses in SC but you could experiment. The Japanese woodland primroses are the hardiest, although they all do well. Carolyn
April 25, 2013 at 8:19 pm
I will have to see who is carrying ANY primroses (besides the grocery store).
April 25, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Funny!!!!!