Published in the News-Review February 21, 2025
By: Bonnie Courter
Question: I’m seeing these colorful potted flowers in the stores and wondering what they are. Would they hold up okay in these freezing temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately?
Answer: After such a long and very cold winter, gardeners are looking for anything to brighten up their gardens. Go no further than the humble and hardy primrose!
Common primroses (Primula vulgaris) are perennial flowering plants native to Europe, Eurasia and North Africa. The Primula genus contains at least 500 species and an almost infinite number of hybrids and cultivars. These cheery, blooming, low-growing plants have been around since ancient times, used medicinally by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Primrose oil, which is extracted from their seeds, is a common ingredient in skincare products, valued for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties and thus effective in treating dry skin, acne, and other skin conditions..
They are one of the earliest spring bloomers and are very hardy against frost and snow, so are an excellent plant to consider if you’re looking to add some “pop” to your dreary winter landscape. Their blooms appear from February and last through April, with delicately scented flowers that are also an early source for pollinators.
Identified by their wrinkled, pointed leaves and five-petaled flowers, primroses come in a large array of color choices. They can be planted in containers along with other spring bloomers such as daffodils, crocuses, hellebores, snowdrops, pansies, and bleeding hearts.
Planted in the ground, they will offer beautiful color to your landscapes year after year. They do best in partial shade, tucked under deciduous trees or shrubs that allow sun to pass through in the spring before the leaves emerge, which then provide dappled shade during the summer. They like a rich, well-draining acidic soil. Water regularly during the summer to keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Once established, primroses require little care.
Occasionally, you may want to divide their clumps as they expand. This is best done after they’ve finished blooming in late spring. Dig up the entire plant with a shovel or trowel. Divide the plant using a sharp end of a spade, your hands or a garden knife into sections, leaving a third of the clump to replant in the same place. Replant the divisions, watering them well. Whenever dividing perennials, it is best done on a cool or cloudy day.
When shopping for primroses at garden centers or nurseries, look for plants that are healthy in appearance and preferably with unopened buds. If planting them in the ground, set the plants 6-12” apart and 4-6” deep. Water thoroughly after planting. Adding a layer of mulch will retain moisture and protect the roots.
Primroses can also be started from seed indoors or outdoors in cold frames during the winter. Once they’ve developed their second or third leaves, you can transplant them into your garden.
Common pests of primroses are slugs and snails which can be controlled with slug bait placed around the plants. Spray off spider mites or aphids with a strong jet of water. Be sure your primroses are getting enough drainage to avoid crown or root rot by amending the soil with compost or relocating the plants to a well-drained site.
As houseplants, primroses tend to be more short-lived since they require cool growing conditions along with a period of winter dormancy to bloom again. Give them plenty of bright, indirect light and place them where they get nighttime temperatures between 50-60 degrees and daytime temperatures below 80 degrees.
With a little investment and very little fuss, the hardy primrose will lift your spirits every cold, wet February, year after year.
Do you have a gardening or insect question? Contact the Douglas County Master Gardeners at douglasmg@oregonstate.edu or 541-672-4461 or visit 1134 SE Douglas Ave., Roseburg. Douglas County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who help the OSU Extension Service serve the people of Douglas County.
Don’t miss our “Spring into Gardening” event on Saturday, March 8, 9 AM- 4 PM at Umpqua Community College. Registration is now open. The cost is $40 per person. Discover practical approaches to vegetable gardening, improving garden soil, succulents, grafting, herbs, flowers, garden tools, pollinators, traditional plant uses, and so much more. Visit our website to register at: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/county/douglas/events