Hardy zones 2 through 8, grow this one in moist, organic soil in partial shade for best results. Dr. Hickman's article is of special interest if you're gardening in one of B.C.'s colder zones, as the Devonian Botanic Garden is in Edmonton. Even if you don't live in Vancouver, their online catalogue and garden tour are well worth a visit. They also dislike heavy, clay soils, so amend your soil with compost first if necessary to avoid disappointment. You'll have to patrol vigilantly with your salt shaker or lay out your slug traps early in the spring to protect them.
Many primulas naturalize well and almost all are easy to grow from seed.
They look best en masse, grouped by species, so they can burst into sheets of dazzling color. Yes, I have grown them once. They did beautifully for about three years and then vanished, an usual habit, I believe. It just shows what can be accomplished when gardeners dare to experiment. For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Susan Ward's Gardening in B.C. topic, please visit the Discussions page .