Primroses and Polyantha

I have just planted some primroses in the front garden. I love the native primrose, Primula vulgaris, a compact plant which grows to about 6 inches in height and produces lots of small pale yellow flowers with darker yellow centres. This native primrose grows more robustly in my garden than the hybrid Polyanthus and each year spreads a little bit more.

The Polyanthus is a garden hybrid which is very popular for bedding and containers due to its beautiful and varied colour palette. The flowers are larger than the Primula vulgaris and are carried in large trusses on stout stems well above the leaves. If you want dramatic early spring colour then these plants are hard to beat. Some of the colours are so delicate the flowers look as if they have been hand painted. I can never resist buying a few each year. They are perennial plants and will flower again next year.