Primrose 'Cairo Orange' (Primula vulgaris) – Orange Spring Bedding Plant (12 Plants in 2 x 6-Cell Trays)

Primrose 'Cairo Orange' brings warm, tangerine-orange colour to borders, patio containers and hanging baskets, with a long run of flowers from late winter through spring. It is an improved polyanthus-type Primula vulgaris from the Cairo Series, known for its weather tolerance, compact habit and prolific flowering.

The neat rosettes of crinkled, mid-green leaves stay low and tidy, so this primrose suits window boxes, pots and the front of a border. It also brings colour beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, and the early flowers are a useful source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. It is fully hardy across Britain and will come back year after year if left in the ground, though it is often grown as seasonal bedding.

You receive 12 plants, growing in 2 plastic 6-cell trays with one plant to a cell, ready to plant out in a mix of containers and borders. Choose a spot in full sun or partial shade where the soil stays moist and rich in organic matter. In warmer months it does best with some shade.

Water regularly in dry spells without letting the soil become waterlogged, and deadhead spent flowers to keep new ones coming. A balanced liquid feed every 2 to 3 weeks in the growing season helps, and established clumps can be divided every 2 to 3 years. Primulas can cause stomach upset and skin irritation, so wash your hands after handling them.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Primrose, Polyanthus Primrose
• Botanical Name: Primula vulgaris
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 15-20cm tall and 20-25cm wide
• Growth Habit: Low-growing, compact, rosette-forming perennial
• Perfect For: Patio containers, borders, window boxes, hanging baskets, woodland gardens
• Foliage: Crinkled, mid-green oval leaves forming a compact rosette
• Flowering Time: Late winter and spring, and again in autumn
• Flower Colour: Tangerine-orange
• Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade, in moist soil
• Soil Type: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness: Fully hardy across Britain
• Maintenance: Low
• Seasonal Interest: Late winter to spring, and autumn
• Type: Hardy perennial, often grown as seasonal bedding