If you have journey the " primrose path , " you have experienced a life of leisure . This phrase has long meant an easy , carefree road in which you have prison term to look up to the primroses , typically the first flowers in early spring .
Throughout history , flowers have been imbued with meaning , sometimes with historical or cultural significance and sometimes literary or medicative . The primrose efflorescence ( Primulaspp . , USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8) sure enough lease its situation among lore .
Types of Primroses
There are multipletypes of primrosesin thePrimulagenus ; in fact , there are about 450 species of these showy flowering plant , among which 250 are cultivated and might be found in garden centre . Most bloom in former bound , although some have flowers that last until other summer .
Primroses in the Garden
These early blooming flowers are recurrent plants that usually grow in a mounded word form up to 3 foot in width . They have green leaves that form a little potato , but their flower color vary wide , depending on the species or cultivar , so they may have blue , dark- or pale - yellow , pinkish , over-embellished , red or bloodless flowers .
plant life primrose in partial shade or full shade , which correspond to less than two hours a day . While these plant like middling sozzled soil , they must have good drainage .
These plants are popular in rock’n’roll gardens due to their low , mounding habit . While most flower in early spring , some flower in previous bound .
Common Primrose Varieties
The common primrose isPrimula vulgaris(zones 4 to 9 ) , with unmarried flush on 6 - inch stems . A wild primrose , the cowslip ( Primula veris , zone 5 to 9 ) has hopeful yellow flowers , while the oxlip ( Primula elatior , zones 4 to 8 ) has large yellow bloom .
Among water system - loving primula are the Japanese primula ( Primula japonica , zones 3 to 8) and the drumstick primrose ( Primula denticulata , zones 2 to 8) .
All are valuable garden plants that do their due industriousness during the growing season . Primrosecare is minimum , as these works draw few cuss or diseases .
Primrose Symbolism
In the straitlaced epoch , flower were normally used to symbolize various emotion , peculiarly those come to to love .
The Primrose in Literature
Consider John Donne ’s verse form " The Primrose , " in which Donne contrasts the abbreviated , sweet life history of the primula with human mortality rate . William Shakespeare appeal the primrose as a flower associated with youth inA Midsummer Night ’s Dream . Shakespeare is also the one who coined the term " a primrose itinerary . "
Then there is Robert Herrick in his poem " To primula replete with Morning Dew , " who pen about primroses wet with dew as if they were cry .
Spring and New Beginnings
In nature , the primrose is a symbol of spring and new first . The name " primula " has its foundation in the Latin wordprimus , recognizing primula as being one of the early leap prime to bloom .
In this fashion , it has been associated with youth , simmpleness and courage , as it braves the element to open its petal .
The Primrose in Medicine
While the primrose was for century believed to be a panacea for multiple maladies — including cephalalgia , ear aches and kidney stones — it is actually toxic and has little medicinal note value .
Some still say that the origin can be infused to treat bronchitis , insomnia or headaches , but this information has no scientific fundament .
