(Hybrid Crocus, Spring Crocus)

Providing a welcome burst of color at winter's end, this crocus opens its cheerful flowers even as the last remnants of snow linger. Introduced in the early twentieth century, it is a hybrid of Crocus tommasinianus and the large "Dutch crocus" (C. vernus).

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two soft lilac flowers with silvery gray exteriors in winter or early spring, a week or two before...

(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,...

(Hybrid Crocus, Spring Crocus)

One of many crocuses that blooms in the fall, this hybrid of Crocus pulchellus and C. speciosus is an excellent choice for bringing color to the late-season garden. Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two pale pearly gray-blue flowers with mid-blue veins from early to mid-autumn. Held singly atop ankle-high, stalk-like floral tubes, the fragrant, up-facing, goblet-shaped blooms have six "petals"...

(Hybrid Crocus, Spring Crocus)

Providing a welcome burst of color at winter's end, this heirloom crocus opens its showy flowers even as the last remnants of snow linger. Introduced in the early twentieth century, it is one of many hybrids that trace their ancestry to Crocus chrysanthus and C. biflorus.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to four flowers in winter or early spring, just as the grassy, shiny, dark green leaves...

(Spring Crocus)

Opening its bright sunny flowers during some of the dullest and coldest days of the year, this crocus from central Turkey has been a welcome sight in gardens since its introduction to horticulture in the late nineteenth century.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one or two glowing orange-yellow flowers in late winter or early spring, just as the grassy, gray-green leaves emerge. Held on short, erect, stalk-like floral tubes,...

(Golden Bunch Crocus, Spring Crocus)

Opening its bright sunny flowers during some of the dullest and coldest days of the year, Crocus ancyrensis has been a welcome sight in gardens since its introduction to horticulture from central Turkey in the late nineteenth century. It is usually cultivated in the form of 'Golden Bunch,' which produces up to five flowers rather than the typical one or two.

Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up glowing orange-yellow...

(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, Wild Saffron)

A close cousin and presumed parent of saffron crocus, this fall-blooming "bulb" comes from Greece and neighboring Mediterranean islands. Growing from a small bulb-like storage organ known as a corm, this diminutive herbaceous perennial sends up one to five fragrant lilac-purple or white 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 have yellow anthers, red styles, and white or lilac throats,...

(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...