(Crocosmia, Montbretia, Solfatare Montbretia)

Herbaceous perennials native to South Africa, crocosmias are best known for their striking flowers. In summer, Solfatare montbretia has spreading clumps of bronzy sword-like leaves which give rise to tall, slender, arching spikes of tubular apricot-yellow flowers. Plants grow from bulb-like corms that spread via underground stolons. This antique hybrid was introduced in 1886 by the renowned French nurseryman Victor Lemoine.

This plant is striking in the sunny border when grown in fertile, well-drained...

(Crocosmia, Montbretia, Venus Montbretia)

Herbaceous perennials native to South Africa, montbretias are best known in gardens by Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora hybrids such as 'Venus'. In summer, its spreading clumps of sword-like leaves give rise to thigh-high, slender, arching spikes of deep red-orange, tubular flowers with peachy-yellow centers. Plants grow from bulb-like corms that spread via underground stolons.

'Venus' is striking in the sunny border when grown in fertile, well-drained soil. In colder climates, mulching will improve...

(Spring Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...

(Snow Crocus, Spring Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...

(Snow Crocus, Spring Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...

(Snow Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...

(Snow Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...

(Cartwright's Fall Crocus, White Wild Saffron, Wild Saffron)

A close cousin and presumed parent of saffron crocus, Crocus cartwrightianus is a diminutive herbaceous perennial from Greece and neighboring Mediterranean islands. Albino forms – including the pure white 'Albus' – are common in the wild. Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, 'Albus' sends up one to five fragrant flowers from early to mid-autumn, just as the grassy, gray-green leaves emerge. Held on upright, stalk-like, ankle-high floral tubes, the goblet-shaped flowers...

(E.P. Bowles Crocus, Snow Crocus)

Freely producing its cheerful, sunny blossoms in the waning chill of late winter, this native of southeastern Europe and western and central Turkey is a quintessential harbinger of spring. It has also teamed with the white-flowered C. biflorus to produce numerous white-, yellow-, and blue-flowered hybrids known as "snow crocuses."

Like all other crocuses, this diminutive herbaceous perennial grows from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm. In late winter or early...

(Spring Crocus)

Most gardeners know the delight of the first crocus of spring. Relatively few, though, have experienced the joy of crocuses at other seasons. Yet, in their native haunts in Europe and western Asia, these hardy herbaceous "bulbs" are as much a presence at the growing season's end as at its beginning.

Crocus are members of the Iris family, Iridaceae. They bear chalice-shaped flowers of yellow, blue, purple, or white with long floral tubes that extend underground and may bloom in winter,...