Plant Crocuses in Fall for an Early Spring Show
Their small but sturdy blooms herald the arrival of spring and add unexpected color in autumn
Want proof that spring really is coming? Plant crocuses. They may be relatively tiny compared with daffodils, tulips and irises — the giant Dutch crocus reaches only 6 inches in height — but they’re perfectly at home when it’s too cold for other bulbs. Some will start blooming in winter, pushing up through the snow. Most will brighten the garden in early spring. And some will even wait until fall to bloom.
Benefits and tolerances: Crocuses do best in cold-winter climates. They’re perennials that naturalize readily. C. chrysanthus and C. tommasinianus can thrive under deciduous trees.
Deer don’t seem to like crocus corms or flowers. On the other hand, animals such as mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits might dig them up or eat the leaves. Place chicken wire around the planted corms and over the soil if you have problems. You can also intersperse the corms with daffodil bulbs for a charming spring vignette that animals will stay away from.
Deer don’t seem to like crocus corms or flowers. On the other hand, animals such as mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits might dig them up or eat the leaves. Place chicken wire around the planted corms and over the soil if you have problems. You can also intersperse the corms with daffodil bulbs for a charming spring vignette that animals will stay away from.
C. tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’ blooms in early spring.
Crocus basics. Crocuses are known for their small size, their foliage, which resembles blades of grass, and their open blooms.
The familiar and widely available spring-blooming Dutch crocus (C. vernus) has cup-like flowers in shades of purple and white, often with streaks. C. chrysanthus is another spring-blooming crocus; it has fragrant flowers in shades of yellow and orange. Blooming even earlier, often in winter snow, are C. tommasinianus, with silver-tinged lavender flowers, and C. sieberi, whose lavender flowers are among the first of the winter-blooming crocuses to appear.
A good fall-blooming crocus to look for is saffron crocus, C. sativus. This species and other fall-blooming crocuses can usually be purchased from specialty growers, such as Breck’s, Brent and Becky’s and White Flower Farm.
Crocus basics. Crocuses are known for their small size, their foliage, which resembles blades of grass, and their open blooms.
The familiar and widely available spring-blooming Dutch crocus (C. vernus) has cup-like flowers in shades of purple and white, often with streaks. C. chrysanthus is another spring-blooming crocus; it has fragrant flowers in shades of yellow and orange. Blooming even earlier, often in winter snow, are C. tommasinianus, with silver-tinged lavender flowers, and C. sieberi, whose lavender flowers are among the first of the winter-blooming crocuses to appear.
A good fall-blooming crocus to look for is saffron crocus, C. sativus. This species and other fall-blooming crocuses can usually be purchased from specialty growers, such as Breck’s, Brent and Becky’s and White Flower Farm.
C. chrysanthus ‘Princess Beatrix’ adds a sweet scent to the garden.
How to use it. Plant in masses — crocuses are so small, they can get lost when planted individually — and allow them to naturalize. Tuck them into rock gardens or use them as a border in a flower bed or along a path. Show them off up close in a container.
For an even more natural effect, allow crocuses to grow in a grassy lawn or meadow area. This is especially effective with saffron crocus. The one drawback is that you will need to leave the entire area unmowed until the leaves die.
How to use it. Plant in masses — crocuses are so small, they can get lost when planted individually — and allow them to naturalize. Tuck them into rock gardens or use them as a border in a flower bed or along a path. Show them off up close in a container.
For an even more natural effect, allow crocuses to grow in a grassy lawn or meadow area. This is especially effective with saffron crocus. The one drawback is that you will need to leave the entire area unmowed until the leaves die.
How to plant. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Set bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep, pointed side up, and 3 to 4 inches apart. Add chicken wire or other protection at the bottom and sides of the planting area if animals are a problem. You can also add a bulb fertilizer at this time. Cover with soil, water well, and add more protection against digging animals on top of the soil if needed.
C. tommasinianus var. pictus
Growing notes. Provide regular water in spring and again in fall. Feed with a balanced fertilizer in early autumn if your spring seasons are short and your summers are hot. Otherwise, feed when the blooming is finished.
Leave foliage in place after the blooming is finished until the leaves turn completely yellow. You can also divide at this time if your annual blooms are less vigorous than they have been in the past. Lift and divide the corms, then store them in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight until fall planting time.
Crocuses can be subject to viruses, which there are no cures for. Remove the affected plants and corms and get rid of them away from the garden so they don’t affect other plants.
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Growing notes. Provide regular water in spring and again in fall. Feed with a balanced fertilizer in early autumn if your spring seasons are short and your summers are hot. Otherwise, feed when the blooming is finished.
Leave foliage in place after the blooming is finished until the leaves turn completely yellow. You can also divide at this time if your annual blooms are less vigorous than they have been in the past. Lift and divide the corms, then store them in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight until fall planting time.
Crocuses can be subject to viruses, which there are no cures for. Remove the affected plants and corms and get rid of them away from the garden so they don’t affect other plants.
More
10 Beautiful Ways to Landscape With Bulbs
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Common name: Crocus
Origin: Mediterranean region and the Caucasus
Bloom season: Winter into spring; fall
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 10; find your zone)
Mature size: 2 to 6 inches tall and 3 to 4 inches wide
Water requirement: Regular while growing and blooming and again in fall
Light requirement: Full sun when blooming; light shade after bloom where summers are hot
Bulb type: Corm
When to plant: September to October in colder climates; October to November in warmer climates
Fun fact: The fall-blooming saffron crocus (C. sativus) is the source of the sought-after saffron spice used in paella and other recipes.