Perennials · 3 varieties
Primula (Primrose)
Oakleaf primroses — jewel colors for the earliest weeks of spring in a moist, shady corner.
- Light
- Shade to part shade
- Height
- 6–16″
- Spread
- 6–14″
- Hardiness
- Zones 4–8 hardy here
- Blooms
- Apr–May
- Deer
- Deer may browse it
- Rabbits
- Usually left alone
- Containers
- Good in pots
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs ASPCA
Mounds and fills — the filler that knits a planting together.
The 3 Primula (Primrose) varieties we grow
Every variety we grow. Photos are going up through the season. Tap the on any variety to save it to your list. Availability changes daily — call (763) 742-8774 for what’s on the bench today.
Variety by variety
East Bethel and the north metro are zone 4; Minneapolis and St. Paul are zone 5. Green comes back in both; yellow comes back in zone 5.
| Variety | Hardiness | Blooms | Size & sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakleaf Bluepurple-blue, yellow eye | HardinessHardy to zone 4comes back everywhere we deliver | Blooms May–Jul | Size 8–12″ × 8–12″ Part shade · deer usually leave it alone |
| Oakleaf Magentamagenta with yellow eye | HardinessHardy to zone 4comes back everywhere we deliver | Blooms May | Size 6–12″ × 6–12″ Sun to part shade · deer may browse |
| Oakleaf Yellow Picoteeyellow with red picotee edge | HardinessHardy to zone 4comes back everywhere we deliver | Blooms May | Size 12–16″ × 14″ Sun to part shade · deer may browse |
Plant it with
Primula (Primrose) likes shade. These share its light and add different heights or bloom times, so the bed keeps going:
More perennials
Read next
- Best shade perennials for Minnesota
- Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
- Perennial bloom times
- Eight container recipes
Grown chemical-free in our own seven greenhouses in East Bethel — not trucked in. Come see it in person, or use the plant picker to find what suits your spot.