Description
Crocus minimus Bavella is a notably dark-flowered form of Crocus minimus in which the feathering on the outside of the outer three segments is both intense and wide, the stripes have, in effect, fused into a solid, deep aubergine purple area contrasted with just a tiny feathered edge of violet.
The inner segments are usually of a good deep violet shade also, and this is a superb new introduction for growth outside, in an open garden in a sunny, well-drained spot beloved of most Crocus.
Said to be characterised by having a white style, this is largely true however we have not found this to be invariably the case and forms with orange styles do appear here and there, in plants raised from seed (our seed is all hand pollinated). In the same way, not all plants have the deep. dark exterior (see our final gallery photograph), this is because Bavella is a strain and not a clone, thus there will always be a degree of variability to be expected.
Introduced into cultivation by Alan Edwards who collected it on the Col de Bavella in Corsica. Youngsters usually display the intense colouring when raised from seed, hence the original wild collection has now been extensively propagated in cultivation. Please note that this naturally makes only small corms, the name minimus was applied for a reason!
