Flowers. Photo from R. V. Roger

Click on photo from Broadleigh Bulbs and another from White Flower Farm

Foliage

Form

See photo from Royal Horticultural Society

Plant Name

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Crocus speciosus 'Albus'

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. Gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

Sun Aspect

Full Sun (Full Sun for 4 hours a day).

Soil Moisture

Moist.

Plant Type

Perennial Corm

Height x Spread in feet

4 inches x 4 inches

Foliage

Narrow mid-Green 3-4 inch long leaves appear after the flowers and then later they elongate to 12-18 inches. Fully hardy, so insert them into a sunny shrub border among deciduous shrubs.

Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed

Pure White flower with Orange style in September-November. Plant with suitable groundcover which supports the stem and stops the flowers from flopping over from Paghat.

Comment

These Autumn-flowering crocus are "just as easy to grow as the spring flowering crocus, by selection of varieties; these will flower from late autumn through the winter and are often just finishing as the spring ones start. They all generally require the same well drained spot and should be planted approx. 7.5cm (3”) deep." from R.V. Roger.

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.

Native to Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. The speciosus species and its cultivars are regarded as one of the best of the autumn-flowering species and the easiest to grow. The large corms produce large numbers of small corms. The species will sow itself and create large plantings

Rabbits, rats, mice and birds cause damage by digging up the corms, so cover them with a very fine-mesh wire under the soil to deter the predators.

Plant 4 inches deep in average well-drained, moisture-retentive soil and 6 inches apart in late July or August. 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 autumn-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.

Good Companions for the autumn-flowering crocus from The Telegraph.

Available from R. V. Roger with Bulbmeister in USA