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Crocuses
The delicate, goblet-shaped crocus can give a splash of colour to the garden from autumn through to spring.
Purple crocus
Crocuses are very easy to grow, requiring minimal maintenance, and are relatively disease free. They can be used at the front of a border, naturalised in lawns or under and around trees. They also look good when grown in containers.
These are fairly easy to grow and require well-drained soil.
C. sativus : the saffron crocus has light purple flowers with dark stripes on the outside. And long red stigmas which saffron is harvested from. Can be tricky to grow. C. speciosus : the first to flower in the UK, starting in September. This crocus is a popular species with varying colours from white to deep lilac blue. It is easy to grow and ideal for the front of borders or in grass.
These flower from about February to March, and have a smaller corm. They require well-drained soil.
C. chrysanthus 'Snow Bunting' : creamy white with pale blue-grey feathering on the outside. C. chrysanthus 'Lady Killer': purple-violet with white margins. Inside it is pale lilac, almost white. C. chrysanthus 'E.A. Bowles': goblet-shaped with rich lemon yellow flowers with purple feathering and a bronze base on the outer petals. C. sieberi subsp. sublimis 'Tricolor' : flowers have deep purple tips, then a zone of white and a deep yellow throat. C. tommasinianus : a very easy plant to grow, which will seed all over the garden. Flower varies from pale lilac to deep purple. Tips of petals are darker. Will tolerant some shade.
White crocus
These large flowering crocuses are the most commonly grown. They can often be seen in bedding schemes and growing naturalised throughout the gardens of England during March and April. All these Dutch hybrids are from C. vernus . They require well-drained soil in full or partial sun.
C. vernus : the true species comes in various shades from lavender purple to pale white.
Cultivars include:
C. vernus 'Jeanne d'Arc' - pure white C. vernus 'Pickwick' - white with deep and pale lilac stripes. Has a deep purple base. C. vernus 'Enchantress' - soft, pale blue flowers with a silvery gloss on the exterior. C. vernus 'Remembrance' - violet with a silvery gloss on the outside born in late spring. C. vernus 'Grand Maître' - dark blue
Siebol tricolor crocus By seed: some species, such as C. tommasinianus , will seed freely around the garden. Seed can be collected from the plants. Species of crocus should produce plants that are true from seed. Seed from cultivars might produce some interesting variations. Sow in a well-drained compost when seeds are ripe. Most species will usually flower three years after sowing.
Crocuses aren't disease-prone and are fairly trouble-free. The main pests are squirrels, rabbits and rodents that dig the bulbs up. To prevent this it might be necessary to place chicken wire over the planting area. Plant crocuses deeply to deter squirrels. Some growers quickly dunk the bulbs in paraffin prior to planting as the smell deters the squirrels.
National Collections of Crocuses
RHS Wisley Woking Surrey GU23 6QB Tel: 01483 224234 x 2431 Website: www.rhs.org.uk Opening times: Open every day except Christmas Day
D Stephens Green Hollow 76 South Terrace Dorking Surrey RH4 2AQ Tel: 01306 886302 Opening times: By appointment only
Dr RWK Holland Chairman E.A.Bowles of Myddelton House Society 45 Gibraltar Lane Swavesey Cambridge Cambridgeshire, CB24 4RR Tel:01954 230077 Website: www.eabowlessociety.org.uk Opening times: See website for details
A Goode 3 Woodland Road Hellesdon Norwich Norfolk, NR6 5RA Tel: 01603 409074 Opening times: By appointment only
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