There's nothing quite as pleasing as a sunny winter's day. It might be blooming chilly out there, but I'll happily put on a big coat and a woolly hat to go and enjoy the winter plants. From hellebores to the first snowdrops, if you look hard enough there's always something flowering its socks off in the garden.
One of my very favourite winter wonders is the humble primrose. You'll find all of ours in primroses and primulas.
The short version
- Winter primroses flower from autumn to spring, for around seven months.
- They're frost hardy and can go in any time the ground isn't frozen.
- Pick off faded flowers and they'll keep coming.
- After flowering, plant them in a shady border and they'll come back every year.
Do primroses flower in winter?
They do, and that's what makes them so special. Winter flowering primroses give you colour from autumn right through to spring, often around seven months of flowers, when there's very little else about. Many are lightly scented too.
They're also a welcome early source of food for bees and other insects when there isn't much pollen around.
Are primroses frost hardy?
Yes. Primroses are tough little plants and cope with frost and cold weather. A hard frost might make them droop for a morning, but they perk up again once it thaws. Pots are a bit more exposed than plants in the ground, so in a really cold snap you can move them somewhere sheltered, like up against the house.
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Join the Garden ClubCan you plant primroses in winter?
You can, as long as the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged. Autumn is ideal, as they get a head start, but planting through winter is fine. They're garden ready and happy to go straight into pots, window boxes or the border.
How to grow primroses in pots
We always grow this year's chosen primroses in pots on the patio, right by the house. They're so close I don't even need to go outside to enjoy them. I can admire them through the window from the sofa with a nice cuppa! A pot by the front door is lovely too, and gives you a bit of cheer every time you come and go.
Use a good multi-purpose compost and keep them watered, but don't let them sit soggy. Pick off faded flowers as you go and they'll keep producing more for months.
At the moment we've got Primrose Provence and the Raspberry Rose Mix, and I'm struggling to choose. A good problem to have!
What do I do with primroses after flowering?
Don't throw them away! Once they've had their season in the pots, we move ours into the borders, into a shady little spot where not much else wants to grow. They're happy in light shade and under shrubs.
I tend to forget all about them once they're replanted, so it's always a delightful surprise when they pop up and flower again the following winter. Left to it, the clumps get bigger every year, so the display becomes more and more spectacular. Lindsey's are the same, popping up between her shrubs from pots she planted years ago.
So easy to grow and totally undemanding. Have a look at our bedding to plant in autumn and winter for more winter colour.
Happy gardening,
Lou
