(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...

(Cream Beauty Snow Crocus, Snow Crocus)

Freely flowering its pale ivory-yellow blossoms in the waning chill of late winter, Cream Beauty snow crocus is also fragrant from the small, cute blooms. A perennial that grows from a small bulb, it is native to the montane regions of the Balkans in southern Europe.

The dull green, short and grass-like foliage emerges in the strengthening late winter sun, often poking up out of melting snows. Each plant produces one to four small flowers, each colored cremy ivory to light yellow with a blush...

(Yellow Spring Crocus)

Opening its bright sunny flowers during some of the dullest and coldest days of the year, this variable crocus from Turkey and southeastern Europe is best known by its large-flowered hybrid, 'Dutch Yellow.' Numerous other selections and hybrids of Crocus flavus have been introduced since it entered gardens more than 400 years ago. Most of these are now lost.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to four fragrant,...

(Yellow Spring Crocus)

Opening its bright sunny flowers during some of the dullest and coldest days of the year, this variable crocus from Turkey and southeastern Europe is best known by its large-flowered hybrid, 'Dutch Yellow.' Numerous other selections and hybrids of Crocus flavus have been introduced since it entered gardens more than 400 years ago. Most of these are now lost.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to four fragrant,...

(Aegean Crocus)

A charming, early-blooming "bulb" with a striking color scheme, this little crocus comes from the Aegean islands and western and southern Turkey.

Growing from a small yellowish bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two fragrant white flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grassy, medium-green or gray-green leaves emerge. Held on short, upright, stalk-like floral tubes, the starry, six-"petaled" flowers have yellow anthers and throats...

(Fall Crocus)

An exquisite fall-blooming crocus that is also remarkably hardy, this native of southern Greece was described by botanists and introduced to horticulture in the 1950s. Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two large, fragrant, pale to deep lilac-purple flowers in early or mid-autumn, just as the grassy, medium-green leaves emerge. Held singly atop ankle-high, stalk-like floral tubes, the elegantly modeled, goblet-shaped...

(Celandine Crocus)

A shining presence in the garden at one of the dullest and coldest times of year, this variable crocus from the steppes of Central Asia is named after the Russian general who first collected it in the late nineteenth century. It entered gardens shortly thereafter.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up several fragrant, glossy yellow flowers in late winter or early spring, just as the grassy, medium-green leaves emerge. Held...

(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,...

(Grecian Autumn Crocus, Pale Autumn Crocus)

Among the largest and most elegant of the fall-flowering crocuses, this native of southern Greece was introduced to gardens more than 100 years ago.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two white or pale-lilac flowers in early to mid-autumn, just as the grassy, dark green leaves emerge. Held singly atop ankle-high, stalk-like floral tubes, the fragrant, goblet-shaped blooms have six "petals" (or segments) in two whorls....

(Fall Crocus)

Mocking winter's approach, this native of southeastern Europe and western Turkey opens its beautiful goblet-shaped flowers in fall.

A small herbaceous perennial that grows from a bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, Crocus pulchellus sends up one or two pale to medium lilac-blue flowers in early to mid autumn. The honey-scented blooms have deep lilac longitudinal veins. Held singly atop ankle-high, stalk-like floral tubes, the flowers have six "petals" (or segments) in two whorls....