Crocus flowers bloom in early spring, very often providing a first showing of their flowers through the snow. That is why they are so popular among flower lovers. It is an extremely pleasant sight to see these yellow, gold, orange, white, pink, purple and blue flowers after a long winter break from such colours. And of course, once you see these first blooms you know that spring is on its way!
Often it is an object of a gardener's pride as Crocus flowers are so beautiful and ornamental, and they bring a splash of various colours to every place they grow.
It is not too difficult to take care of these plants, and you will get the idea of whether you are growing them correctly from the presence or absence of flowers.
If crocus are planted in the wrong place, and do not get proper lighting and watering, their leaves and roots become an easy target for pests with the result of no flowers.
First of all, you should plant Crocus in the areas that have indirect sunlight. That means it should be bright enough for the plant to absorb the light, but at the same time the location should not be exposed to the heat of the sun which would definitely result in dryness of the soil.
It is not recommended to plant Crocus on the northern side of a building. Crocus is a bulb plant and it is therefore important to remember that during planting you need to put bulbs into holes in the soil that are twice the depth of the length of the bulbs.
The soil needs to be well drained but at the same time moist enough to supply enough water to the roots of the plant.
It is highly advisable to mix the soil with little quantities of sand – it would be provide perfect conditions for this plant.
As in the case of many other plants, after a few years the soil loses nutrients which are absolutely necessary for successful growth. It is advised to change the location of Crocus flowers bulbs every two or three years. New soil will have a better texture and will also have better characteristics for holding water.
Crocus plants should be watered properly. Make sure you keep the soil wet during the spring and summer months. In autumn it is recommended to reduce watering a little, so the soil remains moist but not too wet. Dry soil will cause these plants to droop.
Crocus flowers are attractive to all sorts of unwanted insects and gardening pests which can damage different parts of the plants, including the leaves and flowers. Among the most common pests to protect Crocus from there are mealy bugs, scales, white flies and mites.
Fortunately it is comparatively easy to get rid of them, and for that you will need warm soapy water. Just wash the leaves with this soapy mixture, and the insects will not give you any trouble. Do not forget to clean the leaves from both sides. If necessary, do that a few times until there is no sign of unwanted insects and their activity.
Crocus flowers are a toxic plant, that is why you should make sure you keep them out of the reach of children, or that your children are properly instructed.
Obviously, to prevent negative consequences, avoid consuming any part of this plant.
Crocus flowers Grown in full sun to part sun and will reach 2 to 3 inches tall.
Here are a few named varieties for you to look into to see if they are suitable for your garden ideas and plans. Enter any of the names into the search box under the list to see what is available.
Autumn Crocus - Blue
Crocus autumn blooming 'Blue'
Zones: 4 to 10
Full shade to full sun
Autumn Crocus - Gold
Crocus autumn blooming 'Gold'
Zones: 4 to 10
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Fall Flowering - Lilac
Crocus autumn blooming 'Lilac'
Zones: 4 to 8
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Fall Flowering - Rose
Crocus autumn blooming 'Rose'
Zones: 4 to 10
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Fall Flowering - Saffron
Crocus autumn blooming 'Saffron'
Zones: 4 to 10
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Fall Flowering - White
Crocus autumn blooming 'White'
Zones: 4 to 8
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Flower Record
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Jeanne D'Arc
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Mixed Colors
Crocus giant 'Assorted Colors'
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Pickwick
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Vanguard
Zones: 3 to 9
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Giant - Yellow
Crocus flavus 'Yellow'
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Crocus - Species - Dorothy
Zones: 3 to 9
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Species - Firefly
Zones: 3 to 9
Full shade to full sun
Crocus - Species - Mixed Colors
Crocus species 'Assorted Colors'
Zones: 3 to 8
Partial sun to full sun
Author: Caroline Ord-Hume.
Return from Crocus Flowers to Shade Garden Plants or the Easy Shade Gardening home.