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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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| Yates Association |
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Down the Primrose Path |
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April 10, 2002 Picture a curving path by a gentle stream edged with yellow primroses and you will be reminded of the charms of this little flower. The sight of these yellow blossoms is like a splash of welcome sunshine. John Ruskin compared them to newborn ducklings peeping out of their rosettes of leaves. The wild European Primrose, vulgaris, is not vulgar at all, but has been celebrated for it's virtues since the Middle Ages. Primroses and Cowslips were used medicinally from very early times. Leonardo Da Vinci said that primrose leaves were very appetizing, but not very digestible. Boiled they were used to treat stones in the bladder. The pharmacy was just outside the kitchen door. In Culpeper's "The Complete Herbal" the leaves were advocated as a fine salve to heal wounds. Primrose flowers may be candied in the same way as violets. Garden Primulas were the darling of the breeders and many came from China. Others were collected in the Alps. Our daughter Julie was in Switzerland recently and saw primroses blooming on the slopes like weeds near Lake Geneva. The easiest of the primroses to grow is the drumstick primrose (P.denticulata). This early spring bloomer has a spherical flower cluster atop each stalk and looks like a bass drumstick. This is a hardy variety growing 12" tall and comes in shades of hot pink, lavender, red-purple and white. P. lilacina plena, "Quaker Bonnet", which dates back to the eighteenth century, is a lovely lavender double primrose. This is a real charmer that I eagerly look for each Spring in the garden. The Candelabra group of primroses are wildflowers from the Himalayas and Japan. They are the most exotic, love lots of moisture and would be an excellent choice for bog gardens or plantings by streams and ponds. Candelabras often self-sow giving a nice increase every year and are hardy in our zone. Four Candelabra primroses to consider are: P. Japonica, the Japanese primrose which grows up to 18" tall and flowers in red, purple, pink or white from late spring to mid-summer. "Postford White" is an excellent white variety that grows well in our garden. "Miller's Crimson" is another good variety. P. bulleyana is a primrose that enjoys very wet conditions and can be grown by the water's edge. Red buds open to a deep golden or orange flower mid to late summer on plants 2 feet in height. P. Prolifera is very similar to P. bulleyana in bloom size, culture and bloom season except the flowers are yellow and fragrant. P.pulvernulenta is the biggest of the Candlelabras growing 3 feet in height. Red or red-purple flowers appear mid summer. P. florindae, the Giant Cowslip, is the largest of the primrose family. Stems can rise 30-48" above dense rosettes of 18" heart shaped leaves! Fragrant bell shaped yellow flowers appear mid to late summer. It's hardy zone 4-8 and self sows readily. The culture of primroses is pretty easy when given moisture and good soil with plenty of humus which means organic matter such as leaf mold, compost or well rotted manure. They do not want to be waterlogged. Keep the soil off the leaves. Plant them where they will get shade during the hottest part of the afternoon. Dividing clumps consists of carefully lifting a plant and gently teasing the clump apart. It should be replanted immediately. Division can be done during spring or fall. If you can't find the primrose you want at your local nursery ask for a source or search the web. Our local library can even help with this task. So plant some sunshine in your garden with primroses that will give you the pleasure of their company for many years. www.cce.cornell.edu/yates/mgindex.htm.
Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
