Flower. Photo from R. V. Roger .

See photo and text from Flora of North Cyprus

Foliage

See photo from Rare Plants

Form

See photos from The Alpine House and another from Treknature

Plant Name

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Crocus veneris

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.

"Attractive at its best, but in cultivation (in UK at least) a plant for the curious collector, rather than the gardener!" from the Alpine House.

Common Name

Saffron

Soil

Sand, Chalk. In Cyprus grows on stony and grassy places in maquis or open conifer woods.

Sun Aspect

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

Soil Moisture

Moist. Prefers warm dry summer rest during dormancy.

Plant Type

Perennial Corm

Height x Spread in feet

4 inches x 4 inches

Foliage

3-4 of 1mm wide Dark Green 3-4 inch long leaves appear after the flowers

Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed

White flushed Bronze flowers with yellow, throat anthers and style in November-January.

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.

"A rare species which only occurs in Crete and Cyprus. One of the smaller-flowered types, very similar to Crocus boryii – white flushed bronze flowers with bright scarlet anthers. Not hardy in the UK, so needs to be grown in a greenhouse. Height 10cm (4”)." from R.V. Roger. "In very cold areas this may need some protection but we do not offer the bulbs this here, they get standard Crocus conditions of full sun and good drainage in a fertile loam soil." from Rare Plants.

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