Enjoy spring crocus: Best varieties of

Crocuses signal the arrival of spring. Goblet-shaped, striped crocuses look particularly cheery when planted in grass and allowed to spread freely

Crocuses are one of the best bulbs to plant in the lawn

Enjoy springcrocuses

Crocuses bring colour to spring and can be planted in lawns, borders, under trees or in containers. Camilla Phelps offers her selection of the best for all options

WHEN the first crocuses appear you know that spring is just around the corner, so why not plant some now, as winter looms, to give yourself something to look forward to?

We can always make room for crocuses – they are great for planting in lawns, borders, under trees and shrubs or in containers, and they are guaranteed to bring a burst of welcome colour at the end of winter. The earliest flowering crocuses come into bloom from February onwards, making both the perfect accompaniment and successor for other early flowers such as snowdrops, daffodils and anemones. They will also naturalise once planted in the ground and you can watch your crocus collection multiply and spread with each year.

Many species and cultivars

Crocuses grow from corms, rather than bulbs – the main difference being that they don’t have scaly layers and fleshy leaves. The grass-like foliage of crocuses has an attractive signature silver stripe up the centre and these leaves remain after the flowers have faded to capture energy for the next growing season.

There are many species and cultivars to choose from that originate from a wide geographical area, but most crocuses require well-drained soil and sunlight – Avon bulbs recommends at least half a day in full sun. A few, such as the Tuscan varieties, are better for damp soil and can cope with some shade.

Crocus colours

The most common crocuses are the larger Dutch hybrids that tend to flower later, while Crocus tommasinianus varieties are among the best for naturalising in grass. But if you get the crocus bug, there are many species to collect – some of which might require a bit more cossetting in a greenhouse.

Typical crocus colours range from white through to yellow, purple and orange, and these look pretty and jewel-like all mixed up together. But for a spring wow factor, they need to be planted densely and in quantity – whether it’s a bowlful of a striking singlecoloured crocuses for a table display, or a carpet of crocuses in the lawn.

Planting depth

Crocuses are best planted in late autumn before the first frosts. Whether planting in the ground or in pots, the depth for the corms is about 4-6in (1015cm) deep. If you want crocuses to naturalise in grass, the most effective way is to lift the turf, plant the corms and replace the turf. The deeper you plant the corms, the harder it is for hungry squirrels and mice to pilfer them – or you can cover the bulbs with wire mesh.

Yet aside from the corms themselves, crocus flowers will provide plenty of food for wildlife as early pollinators will flock to their vibrant blooms.

Where to buy

Avon bulbs  avonbulbs.co.uk Peter Nyssen  peternyssen.com Farmer Gracy  farmergracy.co.uk Rare Plants  rareplants.co.uk

9 gorgeous crocuses

3 yellow

Crocus vernus ‘Yellow mammoth’

This Dutch crocus is great for the front of a border, grouped under shrubs or small trees, or spreading through meadowy lawn edges. Larger than many of the species crocus, the large golden-yellow flowers appear from March-April. H: 4-6in (10-15cm).

Crocus x luteus ‘Golden Yellow’ AGM

This vigorous hybrid has dark, almost orangey-yellow flowers, with a darkmaroon strip. It looks great planted in borders, as long as the soil is well drained – add grit to prepare the planting area and it will naturalise over time. H: 4-6in (10-15cm).

Crocus chrysanthus ‘Dorothy’

A more petite and subtle yellow crocus than the vernus, this is bred from Crocus chrysanthus, which is also known as the snow crocus. The light-yellow blooms of this cultivar first appear in late February, and it will naturalise in borders and under shrubs. H: 4-6in (10-15cm).

6 purple

Crocus etruscus ‘Zwanenburg’

The flowers of this crocus are pale lilacblue purple, with the outsides washed silver or biscuit-brown with faint purple veining. This is another northern Italian crocus that will happily naturalise and looks good at the front of a border. With larger open blooms, these look good at the foot of trees or shrubs. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barrs Purple’

This crocus is a bright shade of purple that really comes into its own when the flowers open in the spring sunshine. The light mauve petals have a satiny sheen that gives elegance to these classic goblet-shaped flowers. Being a ‘tommie’, this is a reliable returner and good for naturalising in grass. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’

This is an odd name for a diminutive flower. The tommasinianus species, also known as ‘tommies’, originate in the woodlands of eastern Europe, so tolerate some shade. Good for naturalising in the right conditions, they spread by seed. Flowers early in spring and is good for pollinators. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus vernus ‘Pickwick’

This Dutch hybrid is a classic spring crocus. The slightly larger corms produce a few flowers each and can be planted deeper, which helps protect them against squirrels. Good planted en masse, or among other varieties of crocus. It has a slightly later and longer flowering season, blooming well into March. H: 5in (12cm).

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Lilac Beauty’

Another early flowering ‘tommie’ with very pale-purple petals and brilliantorange stamens at the centre of the fluted blooms that appear from February. It looks great when planted with a mix of snowdrops and winter aconites in pots or borders, for example. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus vernus ‘Flower Record’

With brilliant and very rich deep-purple fluted blooms, this is great for planting in among lighter shades of yellow and white – try combining with some of the smaller daffodil varieties such Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’. Best planted in smaller groups of three or five, but equally good forced for indoor displays. H: 5in (12cm).

Crocus chrysanthus ‘Snow Bunting’ AGM

A brilliant-white crocus, this heirloom bulb is a classic choice for naturalising in grass. Plant en masse for a vivid and elegant display in early spring. To plant into a lawn, peel back an area of turf and scatter the corms, letting them fall naturally. Then roll the turf back over. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus vernus ‘Jeanne d’arc’

One of the so-called Dutch hybrids, this is the largest white-flowering crocus, with blooms appearing from late February onwards. It makes a stunning display on its own, or among the emerging leaves of later flowering bulbs. It’s good for naturalising. H: 4-6in (10-15cm).

4 bicoloured/multicoloured crocus

Crocus chrysanthus var. fuscotinctus

This heirloom species appears in February with blooms of goldenyellow, goblet-shaped flowers, tinged with dark-bronze and purple. Try planting these in window boxes to enjoy these subtle markings up close and enjoy the sweet fragrance. H: 4in (10cm).

Crocus tommasinianus ‘Yalta’

Cotswoldgardenflowers.co.uk A striking but subtle twotone crocus, with pale outer petals and a deeppurple centre, this hybrid ‘tommie’ is one of the larger crocus flowers for early spring. Easy to grow, it looks fantastic naturalised in grass or at the front of borders planted under shrubs. H: 4-6in/5-10cm.

Crocus ‘Herald’

Hayloft.co.uk Thought to be one of the earliest crocus to flower, it appears from late January. The elegant pale-yellow centres are offset by the deep-plum outer colouring making a real impact growing en masse, or as a single planting in a container or windowbox. H: 4-6in (5-10cm).

Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’

With tiger-bright orange petals veined in purpleblack, this combination reflects the colouring of the butterfly it’s named after and is the first true orange crocus to be bred. Blooming very early in spring, this is good as a solo planting for container displays. H: 4-6in (5-10cm).

Crocus chrysanthus ‘Ard Schenk’

A white bulb with a splash of brilliant-yellow at the heart of the flower that adds to the glow when the blooms appear in early March. These look fantastic planted in full spring sun. Plant bulbs in groups of two or three, about 3-4in (8-10cm) deep in gritty, well-drained soil. H: 3in (7.5cm).

Frequently asked questions

The filaments that grow inside Crocus sativus produce the spice saffron

Crocus tommasinianus naturalises well in grass

Will my crocuses return next year?

CROCUSES are perennial and can be relied upon to return year after year. They will also multiply successfully, either by setting seed or spreading underground. Once established, crocuses tend to come into flower a little earlier each year, so you can factor this into your seasonal planning. If leaving crocuses in the ground to naturalise, don’t cut the lawns too short or too early in the season. Leave the foliage to die back naturally, as it will generate energy from the spring sunshine to feed and store in the corms below ground. In autumn, water, feed and mulch your crocus patch, to boost their blooming potential the following spring. Larger, established clumps can be divided when dormant – you can store the corms in a dry place and replant the next autumn.

Is saffron crocus the same as autumn crocus?

WHILE the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus, does flower in the autumn, there are other autumn-flowering crocuses. Crocus speciosus produces bright blue-purple flowers with a yellow base in the autumn, and Crocus kotschyanus AGM also flowers in autumn and both should be planted in midsummer. While colchicums look very much like crocuses, and are often referred to as autumn crocuses, they are a different botanical genus altogether – they don’t have the distinctive striped, grassy leaves of true crocuses and the flower has a different number of stigmas at the centre. The saffron crocus is highly prized for the three red stigmas inside the flower, which are hugely valuable. Saffron corms should be planted in late summer and early September. Harvest the stigmas early in the morning to dry and store for use in many recipes.