Flowers. Photo from Kevock Garden

See photo from Stakehill Nurseries

Foliage.

See photo from The North American Rock Garden Society

See photos and text of crocuses growing in the lawn from Diane Clement

Form. Photo from Kevock Garden

See photo from Youtulip

Plant Name

Click to Exit to Comparison Page

or
Click on Browser Back Arrow to Return to Site Map or Index Page

or link to
Ivydenegardens.co.uk Welcome Page

or

Colchicum and Crocus Bulb Site Map

Crocus chrysanthus 'Ard Schenk'

(Crocus chrysanthus is Syn. Crocus annulatus var. chrysanthus, Crocus croceus, Crocus skorpilii)

Crocus is a Chaldean name meaning "saffron". In the wild, the plants are found over much of Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, in North Africa, and in Western Asia.

Common Name

Saffron

Soil

Sand, Chalk

Sun Aspect

Full Sun (Full Sun for 4 hours a day) and Part Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist. 'Many species of crocuses like to be permitted to remain dry in summer, but this is not the case with varieties of C. sieberi or C. chrysanthus, which even during summer dormancy multiply best in well-watered locations.' from Paghat.

Plant Type

Perennial Corm

Height x Spread in feet

4 inches x 3 inches

Foliage

The 4 inch long Dark Green leaves are produced with the flowers.

Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed

White blooms in January-March with the leaves.

Comment

'If placed near the root crowns of deciduous shrubs, they'll get the sun they need in late winter & early spring when they bloom, then when they are dormant, the roots of the shrubs will soak up the water to keep the corms from steeping in too much moisture, so not at risk of rot.' from Paghat.

The 2 natural divisions of Crocus are:-

• 1. Autumn-flowering species and hybrids and
• 2. Winter- and Spring-flowering species

and the relevant division is added to the Plant Description Page Title.

Plant 2 inches deep in average well-drained, moisture-retentive soil and 3 inches apart in September-November. If planting in clay soil, remove soil to 8 inches deep, work very sharp sand or gravel into the bottom of the area, and mix a little with the clay soil to bring the depth up to 3-4 inches, before placing the bulbs in position and refilling with 50% soil 50% sharp sand.
Plant at the edges of paths, drives and small beds towards the front of borders. They can also be planted 4 inches deep in 10 inch pots with 50% sharp sand and 50% Multipurpose Compost mixture.
Plant under turf on sandy or chalk soil. The grass should be mown short a month before flowers appear and all mowing stopped whilst the crocus are in flower and leaf. The winter-flowering crocuses will have made their leaf growth and the foliage will have died down by the time in the spring when the grass needs cutting.
The larger-sized corms of particular varieties can be rested in the neck of a crocus vase so that the bottom of the corm is just above the water level, then place on a window-cill in the kitchen to give you the flowers before planting out in the garden when in leaf.

Available from Kevock Garden and Blooming Bulb with Bulbmeister in USA