The Primrose Family of Plants

Parts of the Primrose

• Primroses have basal leaves and glandular hairs are a common feature. Flowers have five petals and grow in clusters, with each flower having five stamens that are attached opposite the petals. Primroses are common flowers across most of the temperate world, and particularly in the northern hemisphere.

Popular Garden Primrose Plants

• "Wanda" (Pruhonicensis hybrid primula "Wanda") is a popular primrose for the home garden and thrives in a shady position in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. The plant has showy, reddish-purple blooms and makes a great edging plant in borders. English primroses (Primula polyanthus) are popular border plants hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and available in a variety of colors and shades. These useful border plants can be lifted and divided as soon as they finish flowering, so will soon populate any garden border.

Common Evening Primrose

• The common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 5 to 9 and native to eastern and central North America. This biennial plant has yellow flowers in late spring, which are partially closed during the day and open fully in the evening.

Flowering

• Primroses flower in spring and almost all colors have a brilliant yellow center. The flowers are showy and usually held above the leafy plant on long stalks. If growing conditions are suitable, these plants will spread and provide excellent ground cover with a beautiful display of blooms every year.

Growing Primroses

• Primroses are traditionally woodland plants, so prefer to be situated in partial shade during summer months. Ideally, they should receive full sun in spring and shade later in the season, and should be planted in a rich humus soil, with added compost or leaf mold. The plants can be divided easily, once flowering is complete, and immediately transplanted back into the garden soil.