At one point or another, you probably have heard the phrase “being led down the primrose path”. It means that we are being led in the wrong direction, often hypocritically.

But when it comes to finding the perfect splash of color to brighten up the cold days we’ve been experiencing, I would definitely lead you “down the primrose path”. Here’s why…

For my money, there isn’t another flowering plant that will brighten up a winter day better than the colorful primrose. I came across a great selection of colorful primrose plants, while picking up a few things at the grocery store last evening.

There were so many colors displayed, I couldn’t choose just one, especially since they were only a few dollars each. You might be asking yourself why would I buy mine at a grocery store? It’s because primrose plants are usually an impulse item, and are better suited for sale in stores that have a lot of daily shoppers, like grocery stores and other “big-box” stores. I’m sure some flower shops do carry them, but our shop doesn’t.

Primrose plants require consistently moist (not soggy) soil, good light and cool temperatures to continue to do well at home. Too often, our homes are too warm and too dark for primrose to thrive. But there are a couple of things you can do to better acclimate them.

When you get your primrose home, remove the plastic or foil pot cover, and put the plant in as cool a spot as you can find that gets good light. Water them whenever the soil gets dry. And forget about fertilizing - there is no need.

It’s no likely that you’ll get your primrose to bloom again, unless you want to try to duplicate the conditions they like (which may be more trouble than it’s worth). They won’t survive a hot summer or extended winter cold like their perennial cousins, which are grown specifically for the garden.

If our winter is mild, and you have a good shady location for them in the summer, it’s possible you’ll get them to re-bloom. But even if you can only enjoy them now for a short period of time, in my opinion, it’s well worth it!