Bulbs
Photo by : HansLinde / Pixabay.com .
Crocus flowers lead the way for other leap bloomers to follow . They flower bright and ahead of time , bringing much needed color after a long winter . These modest - but - mighty plants with their colorful blossom and sweet scent entice hungry bees out of their hives . Crocus plants will multiply and come back class after year , bring more bloom with them each fourth dimension .
On this varlet : The Basics|Planting|Crocus Care|Pictures|Design Tips|Forcing Indoors
CROCUS BASICS
Zones:
3 - 8 ; they will typically not grow in hot climates .
Height/Spread:
3 to 6 in marvelous & wide
Exposure:
Partial to full Dominicus
When do crocus bloom?
Most blossom late winter to early outpouring , depending on the variety ; however , there are types that bloom in the fall . Several bloom will be bring out by each corm .
Color and characteristics:
Crocus flowers blossom in a variety of promising colors admit purpleness , lavender , blue , orange , yellow , pick and snowy . They have narrow , grass - like foliage .
Types:
There are 2 type of spring - flowering crocuses : Species form , ( snow crocus or wild crocus ) , that are smaller and the first to flower ; and the more common Dutch crocus ( hybrids ofCrocus vernus ) that have turgid flowers and salad days a small later than the specie varieties . Both saltation - flowering character belong to the family ( Iridaceae ) , as does the evenfall - floweringsaffron crocus(Crocus sativus ) that the spicery saffron is harvest from .
There are other autumn - flower crocuses that belong to the lily family ( Colchicumspecies ) , such asColchicum autumnale . imbed these in later summer and they will bloom with flowers in fall and ship up secondary foliage in spring . When group get too gravid , they can be dig up and separate in summertime when they are hibernating .
PLANTING CROCUS
exposure by : Photowind / Shutterstock .
When to plant crocus:
Get your bound - flower crocuses in the priming coat after the weather cools down in the declivity , but before the ground freezes . loosely speaking , this will be September to October in northern zones , and October to November in southern zones .
Where to plant:
Crocus corm can be planted just about anywhere as long as they get full to fond sun and well - drained soil . They ’re good to go under deciduous trees , where they ’ll get enough sunlight before most tree have fully riffle out . Do n’t plant in dense shade , such as on the north side of bodily structure .
How to plant:
Place corms 3 to 4 inches deep , about 3 inches aside and with their pointy terminate up . coif them in belittled group of 9 to 10 per square foot , or in large drifts . Cover with soil level to the airfoil so urine wo n’t puddle . If you detect you need to discourage pests like mice or field mouse from corrode your freshly planted corms , crushed seashell , oyster shells or eggshell can be added to the planting hole . piss the surface area well after planting .
For more selective information on planting bulbs , corms , or tuber , seePlanting and store Bulbs
CROCUS CARE
Pruning:
crocus do n’t require any pruning , simply let the foliation croak back after blooming and then polish off it . It ’s of import to let it buy the farm back naturally , as it is storing food and Department of Energy for next time of year .
Soil:
Although they ’re not particularly grumpy , they do require well - drained soil so the corm do n’t moulder . Gritty to sandy soils or John Rock gardens work well .
Amendments & Fertilizer:
Add a bed of mulch over winter in the cold zones and absent it in early fountain .
Watering:
set up corms take ample moisture in fall when root are grow and in spring when flower . Unless rain is tolerable , water in the amount of ½ to 1 inch of rainwater per week . Do n’t water in summertime or when plants are dormant or they may waste . You may want to avoid planting them in area where they will find water class - round unless you plan on cut into them up and storing them .
Propagation:
Crocuses sprout from corms , although the term crocus bulbs is often used as well . crocus will naturalize in an area and multiply . Overcrowding may go on after a few years and can cause decreased efflorescence . Crocuses can be dig up shortly after flowering and divided into small clusters to be replant elsewhere or apportion with friends . Corm cluster should be replant at least 6 inches apart , a piddling further than single corms .
Diseases and Pests:
Crocus plants are n’t particularly susceptible to any insect or disease problems . However , mice , vole and squirrels may feed on corm by digging them up or burrow underground to them . If this is a trouble , you’re able to seek protect them with a fragrance deterrent , screen over the region , or by placing crushed seashell or eggshells into the planting pickle . Crocus tommasinianusvarieties or " tommies " are state to be less tasty to squirrels .
PICTURES
Photo by : Garden World Images , Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .
Crocus ancyrensis‘Golden Bunch ’
Zones:3 - 8
Height / Spread:6 inch tall & wide
Exposure : Full sun
Bloom time : recent winter to former springiness
Color : Bright yellow - orange
former bungle with 6 - petaled , loving cup - form flowers , perfect to brighten rock gardens and early spring lawns .
Photo by : Anna Gratys / Shutterstock .
Crocus chrysanthus‘Cream Beauty ’
Height / Spread:3 to 6 inches marvelous & wide
Color : Soft yellow-bellied
This pallid yellow crocus is an early - spring boo-boo and has grass - like leafage with silvery stripes .
photograph by : Geert Naessens / Shutterstock .
Crocus sieberi‘Tricolor ’
Zones:4 - 8
Height / Spread:2 to 3 inch tall & wide
Color : Lilac - blue flower petal with bloodless base and xanthous pharynx
A fragrant purplish crocus , staring for force indoors where its small stature can be appreciated .
Photo by : Florapix / Alamy Stock Photo .
Crocus tommasinianus‘Pictus’Commonly call off snow crocus or early crocus
Exposure : Full sun to part tad
colouring material : Purple - tipped violet petals , lily-white centre and yellow stamens
This squirrel - insubordinate species is commonly called snow crocus because it ’s often one of the first crocuses to blossom .
pic by : Garden World Images , Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo .
Crocus vernus‘Flower Record ’
Height / Spread:4 to 6 in tall & wide
efflorescence time : Early spring
Color : royal petals with pale white pharynx
This large - flowered variety bed covering and naturalizes easily and is a great companion for early - blooming daffodil .
Photo by : Chris Burrows /Alamy Stock Photo .
Crocus chrysanthus‘Orange Monarch ’
Height / Spread:3 to 4 inches marvellous & spacious
Color : Bi - colored orange with black striations on outer petals
One of the first to egress in spring , this lilliputian smasher gets its name from the orange and black coloration reminiscent of Monarch butterfly .
exposure by : Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo .
Crocus chrysanthus‘Blue Pearl ’
Height / Spread:4 in marvelous & wide
pic : Full sun to fond afternoon subtlety
people of color : Pale drab outer flower petal , pearlescent at bottom with chickenhearted pharynx
This blue and white-hot crocus is an former bloomer and perfect for force indoors . Pair with later - bloom Dutch crocuses for weeks of blooms .
Crocus sativusCommonly called saffron crocus
Zones:6 - 8
Bloom sentence : Fall ( September to October )
Color : Lilac - purple petals with dark centers
Each flower produces 3 red-faced stigmas which are the origin of the spice saffron . It takes 70,000 flower to grow 1 pound of saffron ; this would mean set a football game battlefield full of saffron crocus .
DESIGN TIPS
FORCING CROCUS FLOWERS INDOORS
Crocuses can be forced to bloom indoors over wintertime . Pot them in mid - October in a shallow pan or pot , only about an in bass and water supply well . Chill at 38 to 45 ° F in a non-white location for 8 to 10 weeks . Water somewhat during this fourth dimension , but make certain the pot is draining well . wreak them to their desire location at room temperature and they ’ll bloom in about 4 weeks . Plants that are forced , can not be regrown or transplanted outside . interpret more onforcing indoor bulbs .
