Valentine's Primroses: Plant Them Outside Now for Weeks of Color

Received a pot of blooming primroses for Valentine's Day? Plant them outdoors now. Unless they were greenhouse-forced and never hardened off, they're ready for the garden.

Why They're "Annual Perennials" in the South

Primroses (Primula spp.) are technically perennial, but in the Southeast, summer heat and winter temperature swings usually kill them within a year or two. Treat them as a glorious, long-lasting cool-season annual.

Planting & Care

• Location: Partial shade (morning sun, afternoon shade ideal).
• Soil: Rich, well-drained, amended with compost.
• Mulch: Pine straw helps retain moisture and insulate roots.
• Cold snap? Cover with pine straw or frost cloth if temps drop into the low 20s°F (-6°C).

What to Expect

They'll bloom for weeks, often into April or May. Enjoy the intense colors—yellows, pinks, reds, blues, whites—while they last. When they fade in summer heat, simply compost them and plant something heat-loving in their place.

No need to keep them indoors. They'll be happier—and showier—in the garden.