It’s hard to beat the candelabra primula for bringing a little elegance to spring.  Their nodding heads in the borders herald the change of pace from the brilliant yellows of daffodils and narcissus to an explosion of colours – pinks, blues, oranges and reds – as May gets under way. Our favourite is this rich damson coloured Primula pulverulenta, which has a sprinkling of silvery dust on its stems to set off the colour to perfection. They are easy to grow, lovers of damp places but at home in the front of the border as well. Keep them happy with plenty of humus-rich mulch. The primulas are joined this month by drifts of camassias and the fragrant perfection of pheasant eye narcissus (Narcissus poeticus).

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