The Crocus is mostly native to the mountains around the Mediterranean Sea. It is a genus from the Iridaceae family. The word crocus comes from the Ancient Greek word krokos which means crocus plant as well as saffron. Saffron comes from the threads of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus).
The Crocus is not a bulb but a corm that spreads by making new corms and by seed.
There are many varieties and colors available and also spring and autumn bloomers. The leaves of the spring bloomers emerge in January and they start blooming in February. To me that is always a sign that spring is coming and makes me very cheerful.
After the bloom the leaves stay green for some time. Do not cut them because the Crocus uses these leaves to build up the energy to bloom again next year.
The spring flowering Crocus is very suitable to plant in your lawn. They will give you a flowering lawn and by the time you need to mow the leaves will have dried. You can treat the lawn as any other lawn. Also underneath deciduous shrubs and trees the Crocus does well. You can also plant Crocuses together with plants that emerge later in spring like for example the Asclepias tuberosa.
Attracts bees: yes
Characteristic: newly emerging every year
Deer resistant: yes
Exposure: sun/ part shade
Flower color: various
Flowering time: February – March
Foliage color: green
Fragrant flower: yes
Hardiness: -25 ºC (-13 F)
Height: 4 inches (10 cm)
Soil: normal/ moist