Crocus

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Common Name

Crocus

Scientific Name

Crocus

Plant Category

Perennial

Location

Central and Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, across Central Asia to western China.

Height

4-6 inches

Width

3-5 inches

Blooming Season

Early spring for spring blooming crocuses; early fall for fall bloomers.

Plant Habit

Upright, clump-forming

Color

Yellow, lavender, blue or white

Sun

Full sun

Soil

Well-drained average soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Easily maintained. Deer resistant. Tend to grow in clumps.

Usage

Used at the front of borders, naturalized in lawns or under and around trees. Also grown in containers.

Information

Crocuses belong to the iris family, and they are hardy, corm-forming herbs.
They are most noted for being some of the very earliest spring flowers. Crocuses have since been cultivated into a wide variety of hybrids, most developed in Holland. Crocuses may be divided into two main groups: spring-flowering and fall-flowering. Spring crocuses are the most popular because of their brightly-colored flowers. There are about eighty species of crocuses. Their cup-shaped, solitary, salverform flowers taper off into a narrow tube. The grass-like, ensiform leaf shows generally a white central stripe along the leaf axis. The leaf margin is entire. All crocuses typically have three stamens.

Growing Tips

Crocuses are very easy to grow, requiring minimal maintenance, and are relatively disease free. Autumn-flowering bulbs should be planted from August to October and spring-flowering bulbs from late September to November. Crocuses prefer their soil damper in the spring and fall, but dry and warm during the summer. It is not a good idea to plant crocuses near summer annuals or other water-hungry summer blooms. A general purpose fertilizer should be used after planting and worked in lightly with a rake or fork for best performance. There is no need for deadheading and plants should be allowed to die back naturally after planting.  To create a natural look on less formal areas of a lawn, it is best to freely scatter the corms over the planting area and then plant them where they fall.

Common Problems

Crocuses are not disease-prone and are fairly trouble-free. The main pests are squirrels, rabbits and rodents that dig the bulbs up. It might be a good idea to place chicken wire over the planting area. Plant crocuses deeply to deter squirrels. Some growers quickly dunk the bulbs in paraffin prior to planting as the smell deters the squirrels.