Flowers · Bulbs
Early crocus
Crocus tommasinianus
A slender late-winter crocus in pale lilac, happier in grass and gravel than the fat Dutch hybrids. It spreads by seed where it is left alone.
Growing conditions
Soilchalk, loam, sand
Moisturewell-drained
pHneutral, alkaline
Position
SunFull sun, Partial sun
Aspecteast, south, west
Exposuresheltered, exposed
HardinessH6
Size
Time to maturityFlowers the first late winter
Max height0.1–0.1 m
Max spread0.1–0.1 m
In the garden
Plant corms in early autumn, 8 cm deep, where winter sun can reach the flowers. Avoid deep shade and waterlogged lawns.
Mice and squirrels take corms. Flowers close in dull weather and open in sun.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | lilac | — |
| Summer | — | — | — |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
| Winter | Leaves | lilac | — |
- JanFoliage
- Feblilac
- Marlilac
- AprDormant
- MayDormant
- JunDormant
- JulDormant
- AugDormant
- SepDormant
- OctDormant
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
15 September
Plant corms
Plant early crocus as soon as corms are available so the roots establish before winter.
20 March
Let them seed
Leave the narrow leaves until they wither if you want the colony to thicken.