Crocus species
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Crocus
Common name: crocus
Crocus
Crocus herald Easter and I always think that this is the only reason that I forgive their clashing combination of 'uplifting' bright yellow and purple.
There are many, many species and varieties to choose from when it comes to Crocus and I am not even going to attempt to talk about them in anything other than a generalised group.
Crocus corms flower in early Spring and send up perky, elongated tubular or goblet shaped flowers which open wide in full sun to display delicate and often pretty veining. The foliage is plain, and scarce with an attractive white line along each skinny leaf.
Crocus prefer a sunny position and well drained soil and are especially well suited to drifts of naturalised planting in grass and under deciduous trees.
Be wary of mixing too many colours lest you want your garden to resemble a municiple park. Much better to choose one or two harmonising shades, scattering handfuls and planting them where they land for a naturalistic effect. Given time they will multiply without fuss.
A word of warning - birds, especially blackbirds, will sometimes peck at the yellow stamens, mercilessly destroying the flowers just as they have opened.
Crocus species at a glance
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Crocus species
