When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot plugs into 4 in pots of rich, moist mix and keep them cool and lightly shaded. Plant out in early spring or fall. Keep evenly moist; plugs may bloom the first spring.
Welcome back.
Forecasts can change. We check destination weather again before live plants leave the farm. Non-plant lavender goods continue shipping normally.

Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Your reaction votes in that category and also adds one equal point to the photo's overall Lavender Crown total.
Category accolades: the photo leading each emoji earns that badge; one photo can earn several. Overall Lavender Crown: all four emoji counts combine, and the highest monthly total wins. Monthly counts restart, but approved photos stay enrolled. Cultivar-confidence votes are separate.
Lavender companion · grow guide
Primrose · Primula vulgaris
Primroses want cool part shade and soil that stays moist but drains. They bloom in early spring and struggle in hot, dry summers; give them a shady, damp, humus-rich spot.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
Steady waterMoist drainage
pH 6.0–8.0Soil
Zones 4a–8bHardiness
8″ tall12″ wide
Some resistanceDeer · rabbits susceptible
Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Bouquet Perfect Spearmint will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–8b
Early spring or early fall in cool weather.
Your year with Bouquet Perfect Spearmint
When it arrives
Pot plugs into 4 in pots of rich, moist mix and keep them cool and lightly shaded. Plant out in early spring or fall. Keep evenly moist; plugs may bloom the first spring.
Early spring or early fall in cool weather.
Set the crown level with the soil surface; don't bury the rosette.
About 8–12 in apart.
Humus-rich loam, high in organic matter · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: Add plenty of compost or leaf mold so soil stays cool and moist but not waterlogged. Mulch with shredded leaves.
Part shade (tolerates dappled shade; morning sun).
Protect from hot afternoon sun, which scorches leaves.
Don’t give up on it
Among the earliest perennials: rosettes often stay green over winter and bloom in early spring. Leaves may shrink or partly disappear in summer heat, then return in fall.
Bloom; deadhead; watch for slugs.
Keep shaded and moist; foliage may rest.
Divide or plant; growth resumes.
Light mulch; rosettes may stay green.
First season: Keep soil evenly moist after planting; never let them dry out.
After that: Water regularly in dry spells, especially in summer when they are most stressed.
Top-dress with compost in spring; a light balanced feeding after bloom helps.
Remove spent flowers and yellow leaves. No hard cutback needed.
Every 2–3 years after bloom, when clumps crowd, to keep them vigorous.
English primrose (P. vulgaris) is rated to about zone 4 and polyanthus types to zone 3 per NC State, but fancy hybrids sold for spring color are less reliably perennial. Mulch lightly.
Dislikes heat; may go semi-dormant. Shade and moisture help them survive. In warm regions they're often grown as cool-season annuals.
Holes in leavesLikely cause: Slugs
What to do: Hand-pick and use iron phosphate bait in spring.
Leaves scorched and crispy in summerLikely cause: Too much sun or dry soil
What to do: Move to more shade; mulch and water.
Gray fuzz on leaves and flowersLikely cause: Gray mold in damp, crowded conditions
What to do: Remove affected parts and improve airflow.
Limp, yellowing leaves with dry soil: too dry. Rotting crown and gray mold in soggy soil: too wet or poor airflow.
ASPCA: primrose is toxic to dogs, cats and horses; main sign is mild vomiting. NC State notes it can cause skin irritation in some people.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: susceptible
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 6-inch pot+
Excellent in pots and window boxes for spring color. Keep mix moist and pots out of hot sun.
Overwinter only
Can bloom indoors briefly on a cool, bright windowsill, then plant outdoors in spring. They dislike warm, dry homes.
Best after a cold winter
Spring bloom follows winter cold; a cool winter rest helps primroses flower well.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 6-inch pot potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Primroses want shade and moist, rich soil—the opposite of lavender's sunny, dry bed. Plant them in a shady border, under shrubs or near a downspout.
Community Grower Report
Real results from gardeners who grow it, including how it does beside lavender. Answer only what you have experience with.
Loading community reports…
Overall
recommendation
Optional. The farm reads every tip before it appears on this page.
Grower-sourced information. Results reflect real gardens and farms and vary with climate, soil, plant age and care.
Great Lakes Lavender Farm
Use our evidence-led health checker for a practical recovery plan, staff review, or a second opinion from the Grower Community.
Reviews from growers, gardeners and shoppers.
Plants, lavender products, apparel, gifts and growing supplies.
You may also like

Here to help while we’re tending the farm