Primula vulgaris | primrose
How to grow this important wildflower for early insects
Primroses are known by the botanical name Primula vulgaris, vulgaris meaning ‘commonly seen growing all over the place’. They are indigenous to Europe, north Africa and the caucasus.
I’ve always loved primroses in the wild, where they tend to find the most perfect mossy spot on a verge or beneath a tree in some picturesque location. Flowers glowing among damp emerald greens. In fact, I suspect Primroses are fully aware of the aesthetics of their surroundings as I’ve only ever seen them in beautiful places. Especially around North Yorkshire for reasons known only to them
In gardens I’ve shied away from planting primroses because they look a bit blousier than my tendency toward plants with a sharp, contemporary look (to my eye). I confess, in gardens I thought they look a bit naff because I associate them with naff paintings of faded watercolour fairies.
My opinion however is changing, or perhaps what I want from gardens is changing. I love how primroses look in mossy spots in the wild, why not gardens? Last autumn I divided a clump into twenty or so little pieces, planting them all over the wilder part of our garden, where I’m concentrating on growing primarily wild plants.