Primrose
(Baby Primrose, Fairy Primrose)
Primula malacoides. PRIMULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Primrose
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow primrose in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of primrose
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for primrose
- Season of bloom and planting time for primrose
- When, how deep, and where to plant primrose
- How to plant primrose
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of primrose
- Landscape and container uses of primrose
- Comments about primrose and its features
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Growing Primrose
Many cultivars of short-lived, mounding perennial herbs, 4–18 in. (10–45 cm) tall and wide. Shiny, textured, deep green, broadly oval, finely toothed leaves, to 10 in. (25 cm) long, on fleshy stalks.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many showy, pink, light purple, rose, wide, saucerlike, 4-petaled flowers, to 1/2‑in. (12-mm) wide, in spring.
Best Climates
Plant as tender annual, zones 2–6; ground hardy, zones 7–10. Best in mild climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) apart, after soil warms. Start seed indoors 8–12 weeks before final frost for early blooms; transplant when frost hazard has passed. Best from nursery-grown transplants.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize monthly. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Protect from sun in hot-summer climates. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, containers, edgings in cottage, formal, shade, small-space gardens. Attracts bees and butterflies. Disease resistant. Slug, snail susceptible.