best primulas for our gardens, with ‘primrose’ author elizabeth lawson

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE about primroses? I felt that way even before I read Elizabeth Lawson’s deep-dive social and cultural history of the genus in her new book, “Primrose,” part of a botanical series from London-based Reaktion Books.

Elizabeth Lawson is a naturalist and writer from Ithaca, NY, with a doctorate in botany. She’s also the new president of the American Primrose Society.

The name Primula translates as “little first one,” and they are a welcome sight of spring. She introduced me to the best primulas for our gardens today, and some primrose legend and lore. Plus: Enter to win the book in the comments at the very bottom of the page.

Read along as you listen to the July 22, 2019 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Spotify or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here). Photo of drumstick primrose, Primula denticulata, above by Pam Eveleigh.)

getting to know primroses, with elizabeth lawson

Margaret Roach: I almost feel like we ought to give one of those legal disclaimer warnings before we start talking, like, “Trying these plants at home can be habit-forming,” because they are contagious, aren’t they? [Laughter.]

Elizabeth Lawson: Oh they are, there’s no question. Primroses, they have character and extraordinary details, and their saturated color—it’s like wine. You get addicted.

Margaret: I don’t know if all of them are early, but the ones that I know are early and that’s a welcome thing sometimes, too, yes?

Elizabeth: That is probably the most important facet of their character that appealed to people for centuries, maybe before people understood weather or were frightened by it. But primroses were the first and that’s what their

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