February Gift Flowers

The original African violets from which hybrids are bred. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

February Gift Flowers

February birthdays are represented by violets or irises, flowers that suggest loyalty and faithfulness. The irony is that in USDA Hardiness zone 5, February is still winter so neither violets or iris are in bloom outside.

Inside, however, my African violets are putting on a lovely show this time of year. They get indirect light from the west in a corner of my office and remind me that violets come in many shapes and sizes.

Iris are also a personal favorite flower but they would be a better May gift flower where I live. The three upright petals of an iris bloom indicate courage, faith and wisdom, or friendship, hope and compliments.

Floriography (language of flowers) is a means of communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years, and some form has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Interest in floriography soared in England and the US during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society.

Armed with floral dictionaries, Victorians often exchanged small "talking bouquets", called nosegays or tussie mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory. The Victorians in the 1800s went to great lengths to send messages through flowers. Their “language of flowers” was used by many suitors to court. The vestiges of those days celebrating secret messages in botanicals remain today in the monthly gift flowers.

Charlotte

February Gift Flower: Primroses

These sweet pink primoses are now giving my den a splash of spring color.

February Gift Flower: Primroses

I picked up this little pink primrose grocery shopping last week. It was one of the last little pot of flowers left, most of the flowers dark or shriveled so the flower was on sale. I love primroses but I haven't had much luck getting them past their inside blooming stage.

Primrose History

Diana Wells, in her book "100 Flowers and How they Got Their Names" said the primrose is the prima rosa, or the first rose of the year. Diana said the shade-loving plant is also named for the first spring flower. 

How to Grow Primroses

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, primroses prefer cool temperatures, a rich humus soil (lots of compost and leaf mold) and partial shade. They appreciate full sun in the spring, but must have semi-shade as the temperatures warm.

Luckily for me, they are quite tolerant of being transplanted, even when they are in bloom. They should be planted in a cool, partly shady area in the garden with rich, well-draining, slightly acid soil (pH 6.5). Primroses need to be planted so that their crown is right at soil level.

The Key to Growing Primroses Indoors

Missouri Botanical Garden's website said Primroses may be grown indoors "if you are able to provide them with cool night temperatures of 50-60° F, high humidity, filtered sun and moist soil." That may explain it, my house tends to be dry in winter. Maybe if I place the potted primroses on rocks in a saucer will help its growing conditions.

When they have finished blooming in the house, the Missouri Botanical Garden said  it is best to plant them directly into the garden, or summer them outdoors in their pots and move back to the house at the end of the summer. I may just try that. Our summers tend to be very hot so I doubt these cool-temperature lovers will like those conditions. 

My basement, on the other hand, is quite cool, perfect conditions to keep this primrose happy, I hope. Wish me, and this sweet little pink flower, luck!

Charlotte