Spring Crocus.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Bulbous perennial

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

6 inches

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 8

Bloom time

Late winter to early spring

Care

Plant your bulbs in well draining soil during the autumn months to ensure a beautiful spring display. Keep an eye out for yellowing foliage after blooming, which is a natural sign the plant is storing energy for next year. Avoid cutting back the leaves until they have completely withered away.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the active growing season.

Feeding

Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer once in the early spring as new growth emerges.

Pruning

Remove spent flower heads after blooming, but leave the foliage until it turns yellow.

Repotting

Divide and repot clumps every few years if they become too crowded or bloom production drops.

Soil

Well draining sandy or loamy soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-40 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years per corm.

Fragrance

Light

Deer and rabbits

Low

Safety

People

All parts of the plant are considered toxic if ingested in large quantities.

Pets

This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep bulbs away from small children as they can be a choking hazard and are toxic if eaten.

Contact allergens

The bulbs may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies for some people.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and can cause digestive distress if ingested.

How to identify it

• Cup shaped flowers
• Narrow leaves with white stripe
• Bright orange stigmata
• Low growing habit

Height

0.05 to 0.15m

Spread

0.05 to 0.1m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

purple, white, striped, 3 to 5cm

Problems to watch for

• Squirrels · Rodents often dig up and eat the corms during the winter months.
• Crocus rot · Fungal issues can occur if the soil remains too wet during dormancy.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

autumn

Overwintering

No special care is needed, as they are fully hardy. Just ensure the soil is well drained so they do not sit in freezing mud.

In containers

They grow well in pots, but ensure the container has excellent drainage to prevent rot.

Plant these in drifts under deciduous trees so they get full sun before the canopy fills in.

Grows well with

• Snowdrop · They share similar bloom times and thrive in the same conditions.
• Winter Aconite · These provide a lovely yellow contrast to the purple and white crocus blooms.

Similar species

• Tommasini's Crocus · This species is even more vigorous and naturalizes very easily in lawns.

Science

Family

Iridaceae

Genus

Crocus

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Central and Southern Europe

Conservation

Not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in mountain meadows and open woodlands where it can soak up sun before trees leaf out.

Value to wildlife

early season nectar source

Pollinators

bees

Uses

rock gardens, naturalizing in lawns, container displays

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

When should I plant them?

Plant them in the fall before the ground freezes.

Do they come back every year?

Yes, they are hardy perennials that will return each spring.

Where the name comes from

The species name vernus is Latin for of the spring, referring to its early bloom time.

Good to know

• The name comes from the Greek word krokos, which means saffron.
• Crocus vernus is the source of many popular garden cultivars.
• They are technically corms, not true bulbs.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs