Students for Stewardship The Cork Board
← Back to the library

Primrose

Primula (PRIM-yew-lah pol-ee-AN-thah)

Family: Primulaceae Unknown Herbaceous

Primulas are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, and the name "Primula" means "first." Hybrid primroses require a cool climate, and may not perennialize in the coastal plain where they can be treated as annuals. Some flowers have contrasting colored "eyes" and some are plain. Great as a container plant on decks and at entrances. They can be propagated by seed or division in spring. Soil: Cool, moist, high organic matter More information on Primula .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 27 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Primula elatior

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Perennial
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower detail
Some flowers have contrasting colored "eyes" and some are plain.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Hybrid origin
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio
Landscape theme
Pollinator Garden
Garden tags
#purple #pollinator plant #spring interest #butterfly friendly #partial shade tolerant #container plant #perennial #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.