There are perhaps fifty or so species of crocus. Technically, crocus are corms rather than true bulbs. I would consider these as heirloom plants because they were grown in America during Colonial times.


recommended for rock gardens
moist soils
Fall is the best time for planting a. When the plants becomee crowded, divide them in the fall.

Full sun or part shade
Can be propagated from seeds and bulbs. Seed grown one will begin blooming the third year.

Most crocus can be grown in zones three through eight. They can be up to six inches in height, depending on the species.

These feature grass-like leaves that can reach eight inches in length. The foliage can have whitish stripes.

Most crocus species bloom during the spring. However, there are a few exceptions, such as the fall blooming types. Flowering can last for up to ten days.

Depending on the location, some of the early blooming ones can begin as early as late January to early February in the South. These can bloom for a very long period.

The blossoms can open either before or with the appearance of the leaves. The flowers can be either goblet-shaped or cup-like, depending on the species or variety. These are one to two inches in length and almost as wide.

The flowers usually open in clusters of three or four blossoms. The blooms arise from underground stems. A sheath encloses the base of each flower.

Crocus blossoms either have very short stems, around 1 ½ inches in length, or in some cases they can lack stems.

The flowers of crocus come in many colors, according to the variety and species. Some of the most common colors for crocus blooms are purple, white, blue, orange, and yellow.

I’m an avid fan of crocus bulbs because they are very rich sources of nectar and pollen. There is so much nectar that it overflows from the long slender flower tubes. All types of crocus are great sources of pollen. They are also almost equally great sources of nectar.

Crocus flowers are composed of six segments and three stamens, all of which are quite showy.

Growing Crocus

In general, most crocus need some winter chill. These plants are recommended for rock gardens. Plant these three to four inches deep in the fall in full sun to part shade in moist, well drained soils.

These plants spread very nicely and self sow and naturalize very freely. Fall is also the best tome to divide the plants if they become crowded. These can be grown from bulbs or seeds. Seed grown crocus can take up to three years to bloom.

For best results, avoid mowing these plants down until the leaves begin to die back. Mowing too soon is detrimental to the plants’ health.