(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,...

(Fall Crocus, Straw-colored 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,...

(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....

(Saffron Crocus)

A modest flower is the source for the world's most expensive spice: saffron. Although its precise origin is obscure, saffron crocus is believed to be an ancient selection of the Greek native Crocus cartwrightianus.

A small herbaceous perennial that grows from a bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, saffron crocus sends up one to five pale to medium lilac-purple flowers in mid- to late fall. But it is mainly grown for the flavorful, three-branched, orange-red style that ornaments each...

(Sieber's Crocus, Snow Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, this variable crocus from southeastern Europe and Crete was introduced to gardens in the nineteenth century.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three lilac-blue, violet, or white flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grassy green leaves appear. Borne singly on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes, the six-"petaled" flowers open wide in bright sun...

(Sieber's Crocus, Snow Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, 'Albus' originated in about 1920 in the garden of renowned plantsman E. A. Bowles (whence its synonym, 'Bowles' White'). It is a cultivar of Crocus sieberi, a variable species from southeastern Europe and Crete.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three snowy white flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grass-like green leaves appear. Borne...

(Sieber's Crocus, Snow Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, 'Violet Queen' is a cultivar of Crocus sieberi, a variable crocus from southeastern Europe and Crete.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three blue-lilac flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grass-like green leaves appear. Borne singly on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes, the six-"petaled" flowers open wide in bright sun to display...

(Sieber's Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, this variable crocus from southeastern Europe and Crete was introduced to gardens in the nineteenth century.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three lilac-blue, violet, or white flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grassy green leaves appear. Borne singly on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes, the six-"petaled" flowers open wide in bright sun...

(Sieber's Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, this variable crocus from southeastern Europe and Crete was introduced to gardens in the nineteenth century.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three lilac-blue, violet, or white flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grassy green leaves appear. Borne singly on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes, the six-"petaled" flowers open wide in bright sun...

(Sieber's Crocus, White Sieber's Crocus)

Opening its winsome blooms with the first hints of spring, this subspecies of Crocus sieberi is native to southeastern Europe.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to three lilac-blue flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grass-like green leaves appear. Borne singly on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes, the six-"petaled" flowers open wide in bright sun to display a luminous gold throat, yellow anthers,...