This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: partial shade
• Soil: moist, humus-rich, neutral to acid soil
• Rate of growth: average to fast
• Flowering period: March to May
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Our native primrose is held in deep affection, partly because it's one of the first spring flowers. From early March to May clusters of pale lemon, often fragrant flowers with centres the colour of egg yolk, appear among rosettes of large, deeply-veined, bright-green leaves. Primroses look especially lovely in a woodland garden or along a shady bank, and are suitable for most shady garden sites. Plant them en masse and allow them to naturalise as they would in the wild, among ferns and other woodland plants.
  
  
• Garden care: Divide large clumps after the plant has flowered, preferably during a wet spell.