Crocus (Spring)

Crocus abantensis

This a a comparatively new species, first discovered around the shores of Lake Abant in Turkey. It has freely borne flowers in a lovely shade of light blue with a sharply contrasted bright yellow throat zone in the centre.

Although another species, Crocus baytopiorum has the name for being a 'blue crocus' abantensis is a much better do-er than baytopiorum in lowland cultivation in Europe and it makes a tremendous show in February.

Standard Crocus conditions of fertile, loam-based soil in full sun, a little drier in summer but not 'baked'.

Crocus abantensiscroabaaba	£10.00		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus angustifolius Oreanda

The background colour is a deep and intense orange-yellow with exterior stripes and feathers in shining purple - an intensification of everything that makes this a good species but this is also vigorous and capable of greater size and increase, from offsets and from abundantly made seed.

Originally from populations found near Oreanda on the Crimean peninsula.

Crocus angustifolius Oreandacroangore	£6.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus antalyensis Sky Blue

Proving to be an excellent garden plant this species is difficult to find fault with.

Dense clumps of bright blue-lilac flowers (in this clone) and a large orange-yellow throat, redolent of the scent of honey.

Those who know that it comes from Southern Turkey suggest that it is tender, those who grow it know this is a myth and that it is a hardy mountain species. It is grown as a field crop in Holland, and has been fully hardy here over many years. The clone offered was selected for its particularly good, pure, colouring.

Crocus antalyensis White

Both this and the yellow forms appeared in seed-raised stock of the blue form of Crocus antalyensis which was raised from a stock originally produced by Willem van Eeden in the Netherlands.

Erich Pasche knows the species in the wild and says that Crocus antalyensis is very variable in nature, so that blue is not the typical colour for it.

There is a similar situation in C. danfordiae where all three colour forms, blue, white and yellow are known in the wild also.

Crocus antalyensis Whitecroantwhi	£8.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus antalyensis Yellow

Both this and the white forms appeared in seed-raised stock of the blue form of C. antalyensis which was raised from a stock originally produced by Willem van Eeden in the Netherlands. The yellow forms vary from strong deep yellow, like flavus, to paler primrose forms, some shaded with bronze flecks externally.

Erich Pasche knows the species in the wild and says that C. antalyensis is very variable in nature, so that blue is not the typical colour for it.

There is a similar situation in C. danfordiae where all three colour forms, blue, white and yellow are known in the wild also.

Crocus antalyensis Yellowcroantyel	£8.00		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus biflorus nubigena

A variable subspecies from western Turkey with numerous, narrow leaves and flowers with white or pale blue-lilac ground colours overlaid with dark stripes or speckles on the outside.

The anthers are a very striking jet-black before they ripen and are notably long. The subsequent pollen is yellow.

Rarely offered and never common, but readily grown under standard Crocus conditions.

Crocus biflorus nubigenacrobifnub	£12.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus biflorus stridii

This is a recently described (1977) subspecies from Mount Chortiatis in Northern Greece. It is distinguished from the other subspecies by having black anthers and flowering in spring, at which time it has long leaves present. These are grey green and lack any veins in the grooves on their undersides.

The flowers are white or pale violet and together with the yellow pubescent throat and black-purple anthers this is a very striking, if rarely encountered, plant.

Excellent in a pot or pan but this is perfectly happy under standard conditions for the species. For some reason a suggestion of tenderness has arisen. This I regard as totally fallacious, its wild habitat is a cold area in winter and it grows there with other hardy species. It has been perfectly happy outside in central Europe as well as here.

Crocus biflorus stridiicrobifstr	£11.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus chrysanthus

VV.GB.235

The true, pure species with vivid orange-yellow flowers, with orange anthers, in Jan-Feb.

This has been raised in cultivation from an old Vladimir Vasak collection.

Crocus chrysanthus VV.GB.235crochr235	£3.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus chrysanthus Prespa Gold

Again true unhybridised material originating from high alpine meadows on Galicica in Macedonia, at 1900m. From this original stock, one vigorous, large-flowered, garden-worthy plant was selected.

Superb vivid golden yellow flowers, inside and out, in February. In short supply but a wonderful plant, much nicer than the myriad mules. Very few this season.

Crocus chrysanthus Prespa Goldcrochrpre	£3.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus cvijicii

A wonderful species spread across parts of what was Yugoslavia and Northern Greece, where it is always limited to mountain habitats.

The flowers come in shades of cream, primrose and yellow. The yellow form only is illustrated. Our stock, raised from the best, yellow, Greek forms shows some colour variation, however all are deliciously and uniquely scented of Freesia. This is a very worthy addition to any collection.

Rarely offered and slow to increase, but easily grown, prefers a humus-rich soil, slight shade and a slightly damp summer, in keeping with its mountain home. This does not like hot dry conditions nor a hot dry rest in summer.

Crocus cvijiciicrocvicvi	£15.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Naturally small, these are flowering sized. Large view

Crocus dalmaticus Petrovac

A superb Dalmatian species with a buff-silver exterior lined with purple, opening to a vivid light violet interior with a yellow throat, all with a good honey scent.

Rarely seen as the true wild-type but here in its best, most outstanding form.

Crocus dalmaticus Petrovaccrodalpet	£4.00		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus danfordiae

This is the smallest of all of the Crocus species with an elfin appearance and an "I can't believe it" size that charms all who see it.

It has thin, thread-like leaves and tiny waisted flowers which can be white, pale yellow or light blue-violet. These are in the shape of C. chrysanthus, but miniaturised.

This little elf, would get lost in the open garden but it is a delight in a pot, under glass where its size can be appreciated and physical protection from the weather given. It is fully cold hardy here hardy but the flowers are smaller than a winter raindrop! Easy, loam based compost, dryer in summer.

Crocus etruscus

Very fine, pale rose-lilac segments inside, whilst the outside is cream. There is purple feathering on both the inner and the outer segments. Throat yellow.

Very distinct from the normal forms in cultivation and free of the virus that afflicts many of them.

Originally from Bastia, Corsica, at 1200m. This was the first record of Crocus etruscus in Corsica. Few only.

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Crocus gargaricus gargaricus

Recently recognised as distinct from what is now called Crocus herbertii, this is the rarer plant both in the wild and in cultivation. It grows only on Kaz Dag in Turkey. The rarity in cultivation is undoubtedly down to the fact that it has only been recently recognised as well as this limited wild range. In addition it does not make stolons as in herbertii, meaning that increase is only by offsets and seed.

The corms have a coarser tunic and though larger than herbertii they are still less than 1cm across. Amazing then that they bear such disproportionately huge flowers. These are intense, vivid yellow-orange blooms produced early in the spring.

Moist, humus-rich soil in full sun or light shade.

Crocus gargaricus gargaricuscrogargar	£6.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Crocus herbertii

Superb egg-yolk yellow flowers in February looking like yellow flames bursting from the bare earth.

This high altitude plant is found only on Ulu Dag and 2-3 adjacent mountains in Turkey where it flowers at the edge of the melting snows in Spring.

In cultivation it likes a peaty garden spot and a position in full sun or light shade where it will not dry out totally in summer.

This subspecies increases by offsets and seed but unusually for a Crocus it also makes stolons with baby corms on the end. Increase is thus much faster than for many species although it is never a weed.

Stock traceable to a Gothenburg Botanic Garden collection made many years ago on Ulu Dag.

Crocus herbertiicrogarher	£6.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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