Crocuses for Spring and Fall Color

Crocuses are known for their ability to add early color to yards and gardens. After a dreary winter, their bright blooms—often erupting through snow—are a sure harbinger of spring.

Not all of the more than 80 crocus species bloom in the spring, however. Many bloom in the fall, and some will even blossom in winter in some areas; thus, crocuses can contribute to a landscaping palette at times of the year when not much else is happening.

Crocuses are members of the lily family. They are hardy perennials; autumn-blooming cultivars are generally hardy in USDA Zones 5-9, while spring-blooming varieties are hardy in Zones 3-8.

Crocuses grow two to six inches tall and possess grass-like leaves that are often accented with a central white stripe. The cup-shaped flowers can be yellow, white, lavender, purple, or bi-colored, and they exhibit contrasting yellow to orange-red stigmas.

Crocuses are excellent for naturalizing; when planted in lawns or rock gardens, they multiply to fill areas with color. They are drought-tolerant, their foliage dying back after the flowers bloom.

Cultivating Crocuses

• Crocuses grow from corms, which are flattened stem segments that resemble bulbs. The corms have eyes, or buds, on the top surface.
• Fall-blooming crocuses should be planted in late summer or early fall. Spring-blooming varieties should be planted in the fall.
• Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.
• Place corms about two to three inches deep with the eyes upward and the wider, flattened side downward.
• Space corms three to four inches apart to give them room to fill in as they multiply.
• If flowers become crowded after several years, corms can be dug up and divided‚Äîor shared with neighbors‚Äîafter the foliage dies back.
• Most selections appreciate a light mulch (bark, shredded leaves, etc.) or ground cover. If squirrels are a problem, cover planted areas with fine-mesh netting or chicken wire. Some varieties are more squirrel-resistant than others.

Choosing Crocuses for Fall Blooming

Most fall-blooming crocuses are ‚”species” cultivars (e.g., reputedly wild forms from which hybrids are developed). At least a dozen varieties:

• C. sativus: One of the better-known fall-blooming varieties. Cultivated since Roman times; stigmas are the source of saffron. Foliage emerges in spring, and flowers follow in mid-fall. Lilac petals veined with dark purple. Zones 6-9.
• C. speciosus: Blue-violet flowers with orange stigmas. Blooms early fall. Zones 4-9.
• C. speciosus ‘Oxonian’: Deep violet blue flowers with darker veins. Blooms mid-fall. Zones 4-9.
• C. medius: Lilac petals with a darker center and orange stigmas. Blooms early winter. Zones 6-9.
• C. ochroleucus: Creamy white flowers with yellow heart and stigmas. Blooms mid-late fall. Zones 5-9.

Choosing Crocuses for Spring Blooming

Not only attractive in the landscape, spring-blooming crocuses are often used for indoor forcing. 70 to 80 varieties:

• C. chrysanthus ‘Ard Schenk’: Pure white with a yellow heart and stigmas. Long-lasting. Blooms early spring. Zones 3-8.
• C. ancyrensis ‘Golden Bunch’: Tangerine yellow petals; bunch-flowering with very small flowers. Blooms very early spring. Zones 3-8.
• C. tommasinianus: Variable in hue from pale lilac to darker purple. Relatively squirrel resistant. Blooms late winter. Zones 3-8.
• C. chrysanthus ‘Ladykiller’: Outer petals deep violet with white edges. Inner petals white. Blooms early-mid spring. Zones 3-8.
• C. vernus ‘Flower Record’: Large, purple-pink flowers with a pale heart and yellow-orange stigmas. Blooms early spring. Zones 3-8.

Crocuses are relatively trouble-free and low-maintenance additions to the landscape. As they multiply, they form drifts of color at times when little else is blooming.

(Spring and Fall Crocus Source)