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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2007 - 10:15:57 AM |
The crocus is an extremely popular early flowering bulb that can be found widely planted in public and private gardens throughout the U.S. The crocus comes from the Iridaceae (Iris) family. The foliage is typically dark green and the flower comes in various colors including white, purple, yellow, or streaked. The flower grows upright to typically about six inches in height. The crocus comes in three groups: Golden, Dutch, and a group of assorted of botanic species, with the Dutch Crocus producing the largest flowers.
You should plant your bulb in the fall months in well drained soil about 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart. Make sure to water your bulbs just after planting, as they need moisture to start rooting. When you plant your bulbs, remember that they need to root before it gets too cold. Remember also that bulbs are susceptible to rot, so don’t over water them!
Try planting a large quantity of this bulb in your garden for a dramatic effect. Note that the flowers will only come out in full sun and a rainy day will cause them to close up. If you have a garden planted with various generations of crocus, you will notice that the bulbs you planted several years before will bloom earlier than the ones you planted last season. You may be interested to know that there exist varieties that bloom in the fall. Ask you local nursery to see if they can track down these rare varieties.
Here you’ll find an interesting article on fall flowering crocus:
Colorado State University Plant Talk
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