When I first grew this species I knew nothing of it except that I had this idea in my head that I didn’t like it. I don’t know why. I was given a free packet of seed when I joined APS and I figured I should plant it anyway. I did and I fell in love. So much so that I started a whole bunch of seed this past spring.
They make great cut flowers. The writer of the Barnhaven Primroses catalogue suggests you can “cut them by the armful” and that “they have stems like sweet peas” and do you know what? She’s right!
Sometimes I detect a very faint freesia-like scent to the flowers but maybe it’s just wishful thinking. I do love the scent of freesias.