This week saw some days that felt like spring. Sunshine, birdsong and a feeling that things were waking up, stretching and deciding on their plans for the day. The crocuses have been most busy, putting their spell on me to the extent that they deserve a special this week.
Crocus corsicus
This crocus from the mountains of Corsica is a thing of pure beauty. Much as I love the fatter dutch-bred crocus cultivars, there’s something very appealing about this slimline species. They look like little dancers pirouetting across the rock garden scree.
The Crocus corsicus is a delicate lavender and each alternate petal is tinged yellow with a purple tiger stripe. I’ve said enough – the pictures speak for themselves.
Crocus heufellianus
Another species crocus, this time hailing from the Carpathian mountains. The distinctive feature of crocus heufellianus is the squiggly chevrons across the top third of each glowing lavender petal. I was given four small bulbs of this by my late friend Mr Snowdrop and have split off and grown on several bulbils with one now at flowering size. Having increased my stock I shall be planting some out in the rock garden to add to the drama there each spring.
The name of this is very difficult to pronounce so I’ve always just called it heffalump. Or is it hufflepuff? Either will do as yet again, words don’t matter. The pictures do the talking.
Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolor’
This little gem is increasingly popular on social media and is definitely a positive garden influencer. These flowers are three toned with segments of custard yellow and Dairy Milk purple, separated by a band of pure white.
I’ve got some in the rock garden and some in pots and all are a delight to behold when goblet shaped in the morning or wide open in the sunshine.
Crocus chrysanthus ‘Advance’
This is a delightful diminutive crocus with very pretty patterning and is pretty widely available to buy. The majority colour is a delicate buttery yellow but it has dramatic claret stripes and blushing on every other petal.
Crocus tomassinianus
There is no stopping the advance of this crocus across the garden but I wouldn’t want to even if I could. This is the orchard meadow area which we now leave unmown all summer. We always make sure the grass is cut as late as possible in the autumn though, to show off this purple carpet of crocus.
When the sun shines they open up and the bees flood in. It’s the perfect place to sit and relax and watch the bees enjoy the early season nectar.
Potted display
Here are a fews crocuses in pots. They’re congregating on the top shelf of my little plant stand and looking down on the bulbs below that are still having a lie-in. Come on out guys – spring is here!
This seasonal diary is part of a weekly link-up of garden bloggers from around the world, called Six on Saturday. For more information and links to other blogs crammed with gardening activity, check the blog of host The Propagator.
A scintillating display – some real beauties there. I don’t have any Crocuses, with the exception of a few cropping up in the lawn occasionally. I think I’ll have to invest, having seen yours! I love those markings on the outer petals of C. corsicus.
I’m starting a bit of a trend. I think these crocuses are so appealing. I remember reading about E A Bowles of Myddelton House in Enfield who had dozens of crocuses in special frames. The former head gardener there said that they were given on his death to Cambridge University although some didn’t survive the move.
That was a stunning reveal and I think I now have a new obsession!
Back to my bulb catalogues!
You and me both Prue, crocuses are probably my new obsession too.
I didn’t know the crocus corsicus but they are indeed very elegant and very pretty. You’ve made us discover some great things again this week.
Well, you can claim them as french Fred. I just love discovering a couple of new things each year – there are so many fabulous plants out there.
A great collection of crocus. Crocus corsicus might be my favourite – but it’s a close run thing.
I think these species crocuses are just so endearing. Imagine seeing the in their natural habitat.
Loved the Crocus Pocus: a good dance for my party too this week. I spent a few hours looking up crocus yesterday on the Alpine site you mentioned and therefore it was a second recommendation seeing yours for Crocus corcicus which is already on my list.
Good to do your research Noelle – there are so many wonderful plants out there to discover. I’m definitely in the market for a few more!
You have some choice crocus there. I would love to get a carpet of tomassinianus going and have planted a few to start it off. How long has yours taken to get to this stage?
Hi Hortus, I think it’s probably taken 10-15 years to get this dense a carpet but they start to spread about year one so you soon get a little display going…
The stripes on the petals of corsicus are lovely as are the painterly markings on the one just below.
From a distance they aren’t particularly striking but up close are simply wonderful.
Beautiful selection of crocuses, the Corsican one is lovely for its delicacy and the others for their vibrancy. I will look out for some of these for next year.
Yes they really deserve a close look.
Lots of lovely crocus this week!
Crocus envy! Corsicus is a stunner. My problem is where will I put all of the pots when plants are resting. At least I’m on trend with a pot of ‘Tricolor’
Tricolor is such a great crocus – no wonder it’s trendy.
I have just discovered your website whilst searching for wood anemone planting advice, what an uplifting find, thank you. After 30 years gardening on the edge of the Chilterns (as you observed very stoney ground) we moved to Dorset, deliberately upsizing our garden to 2 acres. I will continue to watch your “garden grow”, inspire and inform. Now off to plant the anemones and then protect them from the rabbits which are my nemesis.
Hi Catherine – thanks for your lovely comments. It’s made my day. Good luck with the anemones – mine have been very slow to get going but I checked earlier and they are popping up again. I’m very lucky to have no rabbits but we do get muntjac and mice. There’s always a gardening foe wherever you go!