(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...

(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...

(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...