Primula x polyantha & Primula acaulis

The Common English Primrose Flower

Primula x polyantha is a cross between Primula acaulis (the common English primrose flower) and P. veris (the cowslip). Primrose plants bloom during winter and spring.

Although primroses are perennial, it is best to grow new plants each year.

Primula flowers bloom ahead of other spring flowers in purple, pink, yellow, red or white.

The pink, purple or red blooms often have a yellow or white eye.

The bright blooms appear in clusters held just above the 3 inch long, textured green leaves.

There are single and double primrose flowers.*

Primrose Care

You'll Find the Best Price on Giant Primrose Plants Here

The 6-12 inch tall plants love cool temps (60-65 degrees F.)and are not suitable for use as houseplants unless they are to be kept on an unheated porch or in a cool greenhouse.

Primula x polyantha plants are technically hardy from zones 3-8 but they may fail to return where it gets too hot. For most gardeners, it makes more sense to treat them like annuals.

If primroses come back year after year in your yard, you can increase your collection by digging up and dividing the clumps.

If you don't want to risk digging up your primrose perennials, dig a small plant out from around the edge and start a new clump with that.

*Double Primula varieties are older than the singles and perennialize more reliably.

Growing Primrose Plants from Seed

Primrose Seedling

Keep the seed flat moist and cool. 60 degrees F. is optimal--no warmer. Some gardeners find that the easiest thing to do is sow seed in the fall and leave the flat outside (covered with burlap) all winter. The seedlings will come up in the spring.Transplant the new plants into individual pots once they have 3-5 leaves.

Once they have put on some size, plant the seedlings out into moist soil to which you have added plenty of compost. Site the bed in part shade.

Slugs love to dine on primrose leaves so spread so slug bait around the seedlings to keep the pests off.

What is Primrose Herb?

Buy Cowslip (Primula) 60 vegicap bottle

Buy Cowslip (Primula) Powder 1/4 lb bottle

This is an herbal remedy made from Primula versis or P. officinalis whose edible leaves have traditionally been used as a salad green.

It is sedative, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. In medieval times, cowslip was used to treat coughing, nervous conditions, anxiety, arthritis and back pain.

Buy a Primrose Plant

Primula Francesca

Mixed Victorian Primrose Victorian gardeners adored the unique primrose flower. Growing primrose plants was a popular hobby in Victorian England.

Primula vialii, the most striking primrose flower of all

Poker Primrose

These hot red and cool blue primrose flowers will light up the shady corners of your garden. A great deer resistant perennial to heat up your summer beds. Think of it as a dwarf Kniphofia for the shade garden.

Other Flowering Plants:

Cyclamen Plant Care
Cyclamen plant care involves providing the right light, temperature and soil for these handsome plants. Most people throw Cyclamen parviflorum plants away once they finish blooming but, with proper care, they can be kept and brought into bloom again.

Go from Primula x Polyantha to Kalanchoe Plant
The Kalanchoe plant flowers in many colors. There are yellow, red, pink, and white varieties. Over the years, I have tried most of these both in pots and in the ground...

Go from Primula x Polyantha to Plant Guides Home Page