Plant name: Primrose

Botanical name: Primula auricula

Suggested by: Rita Jo Shoultz of the Alaska nursery Fritz Creek Garden

Virtues: These cheery, fragrant flowers bloom early in the season when little else is up. They are easy from seed, too.

Flower: The blooms on auricula primroses are about six inches high and come in a variety of color mixes, but are characterized by a contrasting “eye."

Foliage: Evergreen and succulent looking

Habit: Low growing

Season: Early spring

Companions: All the early-spring bulbs, from crocuses to miniature daffodils