By Tammy Thornton
Dreary days and cold temperatures may have you suffering from the winter blues. But here’s the good news: Spring is just over four weeks away. But that may be a small consolation when you are looking out over a cold, brown garden and wrapping yourself in another layer of blankets. Colorful primroses may be just the little pick-me-up you need to get you through these next few weeks. Time to bring a dose of spring goodness indoors.
Outdoors, primroses are among the first perennials to open their sleepy eyes and shine their perky faces on a new season. In my garden, they have been working on an appearance for months during this mild winter. Some of the braver plants are already beginning to bloom. Their Latin name, primula, gives us a hint to this early bloom. The root word, primus, can be translated as prime or first.
But you don’t need to wait until they are in full bloom in your garden to enjoy these little beauties. You can purchase primroses for a few dollars from most grocery stores and keep them as houseplants while you wait for warmer days. This time of year, these happy little flowers can be found in a myriad of colors begging you to bring them home. The ones you find growing indoors at the store this time of year have been carefully groomed and coddled to be at their peak. You wouldn’t want to thrust them outside just yet, since they have been living a life of luxury and wouldn’t be acclimated to the rough world of outdoor winter life. Place them around the house in a sunny location out of direct sunlight, and their cheery faces should brighten yours. Primroses are cool season plants, so a windowsill or bay window should provide the right conditions, since it may be a little cooler by the windows.
Just like outdoor plants, you will want to keep your primroses well-watered but well-drained. Once temperatures warm up a bit, you can gradually harden off your indoor primroses and plant them outside. Once garden nurseries open in the spring, primroses that are being sold outside will most likely be ready to plant directly into the ground. Under the correct conditions, they should come back year after year.
Primroses don’t like the heat or direct sun. When transplanting outside in spring, choose a partly shaded spot. Some other garden plants that will grow in similar conditions are hostas, astilbes, and ferns. Primroses make perfect border plants, especially lining a pathway in your part-shade garden. They will bloom best in spring and then take a bit of a nap when summer heat comes along. Be sure to give them an extra helping of water so that they don’t dry out. In the fall, you may get a fresh round of blooms, less exuberant than in spring. During the coldest months, they may disappear for a while and can benefit from a small cover of leaves or mulch.
In all their beauty, primroses are also edible and can be used in vinegars, salads, or tea. Crystallized flowers would make a lovely embellishment on cakes or other desserts. A word of caution though: Primroses can be toxic for both cats and dogs, so keep your furry friends away from these plants.
For indoor plants, group an assortment of different colors together for a cheery display. They would also make a beautiful spring arrangement when coupled with forced tulips and daffodils. Place them in a pretty spring pot and cover any bare spots with moss. These colorful, happy flowers may be just the thing you need to add a little bright spot to your home while you wait for spring.
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Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
