A Good Year For Crocus

10 comments

Here in Bracknell, we have had lots of dry, sunny weather and the crocus have responded with a wonderful display. Although I like to grow some rare species ones in a raised bed, there are several good commonly available ones that you can buy without breaking the bank.

For white flowers, there is crocus chrysanthus ‘Ard Schenk’

If you want a bright yellow, the one to go for is crocus ancyrensis ‘Golden Bunch’

Or if that is too bright, there is crocus chrysanthus ‘Cream Beauty’

Crocus flowers also come in purple and mauve, and you can’t go wrong with crocus chrysanthus ‘Etruscus Zwanenburg’ (once you get your tongue round the name)

Another easy one for a good reliable show is Crocus chrysanthus ‘Blue Pearl’ with a two-tone effect

The cheapest way to buy these is to get the Parker’s Wholesale catalogue in the autumn. Although prices are for bulbs by the hundred, you can buy in packs of 25, subject to a minmum spend.

The other crocus I have lots of is crocus tommasinianus – because it is a prolific self-sower

I’m now finding some of these with a good deep colour which are worth moving and starting a new colony. Rather than mix the colours randomly, I plant separate groups of each colour and maybe just add one or two as you might find in nature

By adding a few more each year, you can soon build up a good display which the bees will appreciate as well

• 18 Feb, 2019
• 12 likes

More blog posts by AndrewR