Three Favourite Primulas
The ubiquitous Primula polyanthus is probably what you think of when you hear the word primrose. These evergreen perennials have become ubiqutious because they bloom so early and have been so extensively hybridized that they're available in every color and even bicolors. Already prized by florists by 1778, P. polyanthus is still a large income producer for the gardening trade today. The plants form sturdy rosettes of oval, dark green leaves and bear umbels of 3 to 15 two-inch wide flowers, often with a yellow centre, in very early spring. (Mine have already been blooming for about a month now!)
This primula needs a cool, moist site which makes it ideal for the West Coast climate; grow it in full sun or partial shade and for prolific blooming, work some compost into their soil. I use masses of P. polyanthus throughout the fronts of my mixed borders and use them in planters and containers, often mixed with spring bulbs, to provide a colorful entryway to my home. One of my favourite simple standing planter arrangements is to bed four of these primulas around a 'clump' of daffodil bulbs of a single variety such as 'Serola', choosing primulas in shades that will set off the color of the daffodils to best advantage. (Tulips would be gorgeous in this arrangement too, but I don't use them because of deer.)
When I lived in Prince George, the mainstay of my spring garden was P. 'Wanda', which unlike P. polyanthus is hardy zones 3 to 8. A Juliana hybrid with evergreen or semi-evergreen oval, toothed, purplish-green leaves, 'Wanda' bears clusters of solitary red-purple flowers in early spring. It thrives in sun or part shade, has a long blooming period, and is very vigorous; left to itself, 'Wanda' forms green mounds that burst into a mass of purple blooms in spring. I especially like to use 'Wanda' as an underplanting for perennials and shrubs, interplanting it with Snowdrops for a colourful spring contrast. (There are 'Wanda' hybrids available, but they're not as hardy. Look for the 'Wanda Supreme Series', which produces larger flowers in an extensive range of colours.)
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