Description
(Crocus biflorus pulchricolor)
A superb and very richly coloured blue-violet species with “pinched” flowers in dense bunches, each bloom showing a large yellow throat. The petals are large and spread widely in sunshine to reveal a gorgeous, egg-yolk yellow throat.
The concept of the species within Crocus biflorus has changed. It is no longer regarded as one, highly variable plant with an incredibly wide range. It is now thought of as several, distinct, geographically isolated (and genetically distinct) species each occupying smaller regions. Crocus pulchricolor is now thought of as growing only in Bursa province in N.W.Turkey where it inhabits damp. grassy, mountain pastures at up to 2,300m altitude. Other reports of this plant from adjacent provinces are now referred to the newly described (but only very slightly different) Crocus zetterlundii. It is perfectly possible to encounter both species under both names in cultivation, as the plants have been known and grown since long before the new names were applied,
This makes a spectacular display and one of our most sought after (“biflorus”) forms, sadly in short supply. Most plants in cultivation are thought to originate from a Brian Mathew collection (BM-8514) from which commercial stocks have been subsequently derived. Just to be different, ours are raised from a Manfred Koenen collection made in May 1989 (and verified as pulchricolor).
