Adaptations of a Primrose

Season

• Most primroses demonstrate cold hardiness and live for many years. The best time to plant them, though, is early spring, after the frost lifts. A summer of appropriate care and growing allows the plants time for root establishment and encourage best longterm survival.

Site

• Primroses hail from woodland floors and require sites that simulate those cool, moist and shaded conditions. Plant them in areas with dappled sun or partial shade to keep them from burning. Use sites with efficient year-round drainage, as primroses drown in standing water and fail in muddy, thick soil.

Soil

• Woodland sites consist of loose, nutritious soil with leaf mold, dried leaves and other organic contents as its foundation. Primroses require this loose, crumbly and nutritious soil, and need adequate moisture retention for survival. Turn peat moss, organic compost, leaf mold and bark into natural soil for organic content, nutrition and moisture. Give primroses new compost amendments through the season to maintain soil quality, and supplement with organic fertilizer for good nutrition.

Moisture and Mulch

• Primroses require consistent waterings and cannot adapt to dry conditions. Give the plants at least 2 inches of water every week and use organic mulch to protect soil moisture. Check the soil for drying and increase watering frequency during particularly dry summer months. Primroses burn and die without adequate moisture.