Weary with winter, we look forward to spring flowers.The earliest primroses are Primula, which, as soon as March is warm, bloom in meadows, old parks and gardens - hence their name, as prima in Latin means "first".
Botanists have described about 550 species of primroses. In natural sites, they occur mainly in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The medicinal species Primula veris grows in almost all of Poland. In the south of the country, in the mountain and foothill regions, the common primrose Primula elatior is common, and the remaining native primrose species - the stemless Primula vulgaris, the gypsophila Primula auricula, the soaked Primula farinosa, Hallera Primula halleri and the tiny Primula minima - occur sporadically in the south-eastern part part of the country.
It should be remembered that all primroses are under protection and under no circumstances should they be dug out of natural places.It is also worth knowing that primroses often cross each other, especially the medicinal primrose and the common primrose, so it is sometimes difficult to determine which species they belong to.
Primroses have been planted in gardens for a very long time (in Europe since the 16th century) due to their charming colorful flowers and early flowering season.A characteristic feature of all primroses are quite thick, smooth or wrinkled leaves forming a rosette from which flowers grow.
Beautiful varieties of stemless primrose
Stalkless primrose creates clumps of wrinkled leaves 5-10 cm long, between which, usually in April, flowers grow on short stalks.In the species they are yellow, in varieties they take almost any color.Thanks to English and German breeders, we can have full-flowered varieties in our garden collection.
Many of them are characterized by extraordinary beauty, such as 'Lilacina Plena' with full, rose-like, lilac-pink flowers. It is worth noting that many varieties of the species in question are grown in pots for home decoration and that after flowering we can transplant them into the garden.
Grateful for the light shadow
Everyone can manage the cultivation of the described species if they plant them in the right place in the garden.Most of them grow best in slightly shaded places, e.g. under the canopy of deciduous trees and shrubs (exception: high primrose).Where too much sun gets, plants bloom poorly and die quickly.
But beware, some, such as serrated primrose, can also thrive in a sunny location when regularly watered, especially in spring.Primroses are best suited for soil that is moderately fertile, rich in humus and quite heavy (loamy), non-acidic, keeping moisture well. Lack of water and strong sunlight are deadly for them.
