• easy
• hardy
• thrive on neglect
• bloom best in full sun
• first to the spring party
• prefer well draining loam
• dislike extreme wet
• good for naturalizing
• plant in fall

Along with the earliest Iris, Crocus are one of the earliest blooms in spring. There are various species of crocus, generally divided into Early or Snow Crocus( Crocus Chrysanthus) and Spring or later bloomers. I usually have crocus blooming from the middle of March through April. These crocus are not the same plant known as Prairie Crocus or Pasque flower which is not a crocus at all but an Anemone(Pulsatilla nuttalliana or Anemone patens). Garden Crocus grow from a corm, a small flattened disk of food storage.

Crocus corms have contractile roots which pull the corm deep into the ground for protection so if you plant too shallow they will rectify themselves. Crocus are able to take advantage of winter precipitation to grow their roots and be ready to send up their flowers as soon as the right light and temperature occurs. For this reason they are wonderful for naturalizing in lawns and wilder areas of the garden. If the leaves are left to die down and replenish the corm after blooming, mowing can resume a bit later in spring. I leave a wild area under the apple trees just so I can have crocus and other wild flowers in the longer grass.

By planting a mixture of early and late bloomers the spring display will last a long time. The corms need to be planted in the fall and will quickly, over a few years, multiply to form a patch of brightly coloured flowers for Easter. If planting in a lawn or grassed area, cut and X in the turf and carefully push the corms under the turf. There is no need to dig a hole. Just push the grass back down afterwards and leave to heal itself.