Here in the late days of February, my Primula are starting to bloom in earnest.  The very 1^st to bloom is Primula vulgaris subsp. sibthorpii.  Though native to the Balkan Peninsula, it is the very toughest and best one for relatively warmer climates.  As the photos evince, it is a nice companion for Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’. 

It probably serves as a primary parent for the ones Camellia Forest Nursery (Carrboro, NC) has bred for heat tolerance.  They are just a couple of days later blooming, and all 3 that have thrived for me are exceedingly beautiful.  I especially love the one in the foreground in the following photo. 

The one in the background is ‘Belarina Amethyst Ice’; it lived through one summer but not the next.  ‘Belarina Lively Lilac’ and another Belarina with orange flowers didn’t over-summer even once.

If I lived any further south than I do (near Winston-Salem), I would not try to grow primroses at all.  They like it cooler than here.  But I have managed to collect some relatively heat tolerant ones that I really enjoy.   From my own experience and that shared with me by other gardeners, I estimate about 60% of those bread for heat tolerance by Camellia Forest are heat tolerant.  Here is another of theirs just beginning to bloom and then in more full bloom:

You can see that I’ve been able to divide it a couple of times.  It is thought Primula form new roots in the very early spring and the very early fall, so that is probably the best time to divide them.  (Instead of immediately after bloom, especially if it isn’t a very early bloomer.)

A quite heat tolerant one that blooms about a week later than these is one named ‘Dale Henderson’, after the Virginia gardener from whom it originated.  It looks to be derived perhaps from P. veris (aka, cowslip).  Plant Delights Nursery currently has it for sale.

The nameless yellow Primula in the photos (above) came from a big box store (these are usually Primula x polyantha and treated as annuals) and has lived through many summers but with scant increase.  Yet it does show that occasionally one of those will live through our summers.  (The slightly out of focus one in the foreground of the 2^nd photo is one from Camellia Forest that did not live, but maybe that’s because it was embarrassed by the color disharmony; when I selected it at the nursery a hundred miles away, in my mind I thought they might match.)

The next to bloom is the Asian native P. sieboldii.  It is very lovely and seems plenty heat tolerant and has the added virtue of going dormant before the mid-summer droughts hit.  Primula sieboldii (Siebold Primrose) (gardenia.net)  

Speaking of which, I do give my primula right much supplemental water when my woodland is droughty.  At such times, I don’t think you can over-water them.  And I do amend my woodland soil with organic matter liberally when I plant these.  They prefer acidic soil.  Clay soil is often deficient in phosphorus, so adding that can make sense when planting but I haven’t done so in the past.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For acidic soil, there are facts and myths regarding using coffee grounds for plants.

The Asian native P. kisoana is also a good southern Primula.  Its foliage is quite interesting and attractive, though kisoana isn’t very floriferous for me.  Maybe it needs phosphorus.  Primula kisoana – Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Seen more on banana peels benefits for plants.

My last one to bloom I have planted at the feet of the evergreen azalea ‘Rivermist’, because they do harmonize quite well and bloom together.  It was a plant shared with me by an older now-deceased gardener years ago who lives in my memory every time I see this beauty.

EDITOR’S NOTE: See Will Ferrell’s Camellia sasanqua for fall blooming flowers.

Except on the northern part of their range, Primula enjoy moderate shade.  Blooming in the cool of early spring (primula means “little earliest one”), they seem to bloom a little longer than the average perennial.  The timing of their blooms at winter’s end is a real joy to me.

See Will’s take on Sweet Betsy Trillium (T. cuneatum), here.

Guest Writer, Will Ferrell Bio

 I’ve written garden articles for The Azalean, The Camellia Yearbook, Greensboro New & Record, and High Point Enterprise.  (As well as a racy historical novel:  The Secrets of Sterling Shearin: The Noblest Cause.  I’ve given gardening talks to the formerly redoubtable Guilford Horticultural Society (also served as its president), Davidson Master Gardeners, Forsyth Master Gardeners, and other garden clubs.  I navigate the conflict between having a harmonious garden design and wanting too many azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias…on an acre near Union Cross.