Crocus flower. Growing crocus. Crocus care. Crocus: description, reproduction, care, planting, use in the garden, photos, varieties and types of Crocus ruby giant description
Iris family (Iridaceae). Early spring and autumn corm ephemeroids. In the most common types and varieties of corm shells, they are shiny, light brown, with thin parallel fibers, but in specific crocuses they are diverse: there are similar to a coarse mesh washcloth, membranous, etc.
They bloom in late April - early May (spring-blooming) or in September - October (autumn-blooming). Leaves grow in April-May, die off by mid-June. Narrow-linear, with a white longitudinal stripe along the midrib, at the base wrapped in transparent scaly leaves. Each corm produces one or more flowers, similar to a glass on a thin stem.
The perianth rises to a height of 10-15 cm and consists of 6 leaflets, of which 3 outer ones are somewhat larger than 3 inner ones and often differ from them in color. In some species of crocuses, the "glass" opens as it blooms, and the flower takes on a star-shaped shape.
From the thin part of the perianth - the tube - a filiform column rises, divided at the end into 3 whole or dissected branches - stigmas, painted in yellow, orange or red. 3 stamens with large yellow or orange anthers are beautifully arranged inside the flower.
The set fruit, an oblong box, sits underground for a long time, but as it ripens, it is brought to the surface on a short stalk.
Grow in a sunny area. Light loam is preferred, but heavy clay is fine for large-flowered Dutch Hybrids.
Responsive to fertility. Poor soil is improved by adding well-rotted manure, leafy soil and sand, the soil reaction should be close to neutral.
Particularly sensitive to waterlogging and grow better on high ridges:
- crocuses alatava,
- crocus two-flowered,
- crocus Zibera,
- crocus Korolkova,
- crocus Kochi,
- crocus Pallas,
- crocus angustifolia.
Crocus reproduction
Children. Seeds (sowing in autumn). Seedlings appear next spring, bloom in the 4-5th year.
Application in the garden
In flower beds under large perennials, shrubs and trees in natural gardens and landscape parks. On the hills.
Crocuses of the Dutch Hybrids group allow you to create bright mixed groups on lawns and lawns. Early-flowering species and varieties are used for distillation.
Types and varieties of crocus
Groups of varieties of spring flowering crocuses:
Group Dutch Hybrids, or Large-flowered. Created on the basis of the species Crocus spring. There are about 30 varieties. These are very prolific unpretentious plants, which are decorated with really large goblet flowers: on average, two times larger than those of wild ancestors.
Many hybrids differ in minor details of color or size, which becomes noticeable only when grown together, flowering times for different varieties can vary by 3-7 days. All this allows you to create from them a variety of color combinations with long flowering.
White varieties
- Albiflorus '(Albiflorus ') - on the outside, along the tepals, it is painted with light lilac shading, which becomes dark purple on the tube.
- ‘Albion’ (‘Albion’) - flowers of about the same color, but smaller.
- ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ (‘Jeanne d’Arc’) is one of the most popular and large varieties, which is distinguished by a lavender tube and narrow purple strokes in the center of each outer leaflet.
- ‘Kathleen Parlow’ (‘Kathleen Parlow’) - the flowers are pure white, only the tube is darkened with cream strokes.
- ‘Peter Pan’ (‘Peter Pan’) - with completely white and very large flowers.
- ‘Snowstorm’ (‘Snowstorm’) - stands out with bright purple stripes at the base of the flower.
Lilac varieties
- ‘Agnes’ (‘Agnes’) - has a small light lilac “glass” with a silver edge.
- Glory of Sassenheim '('Glory of Sassenheim') has a darker grayish tint, the outside of the tepals are covered with reddish-purple stripes, the tube is purple.
- ‘Grand Lila’ and ‘Striped Beauty’ – light lilac flowers, like ‘Agnes’, but larger and flowers outside with dark stripes and a dark purple tube.
- ‘Jubilee’ (‘Jubilee’) - characterized by a bluish-silver tint in combination with a dark purple pipe.
- ‘King of Striped’ (‘King of Striped’), perhaps the most large-flowered in this group; the flowers are very light, almost white, but with purple shading on the outside.
- ‘Pallas’ (‘Pallas’) - basically similar to Tlori of Sasenheim’, but somewhat smaller.
- ‘Pickwick’ (‘Pickwick’) - even smaller and blooms later than them for 4-5 days.
- ‘Purpureus Grandiflorus’ (‘Purpureus Grandiflorus’) is notable for the large size of the flowers, the color of the “glass” is lilac-blue, which becomes darker on the tube.
- ‘Grand Maitre’ - the flowers are somewhat smaller.
- ‘Vanguard’ has pale lilac flowers with dark stripes on the outside, and the tube is white but striped from the tepals.
purple varieties
- ‘Early perfection’ (‘Early Perfection’) - the flowers are pure purple, and the color thickens downwards, and a white center is visible inside.
- ‘Flower Record’ (‘Flower Record’) - small but bright purple, three outer tepals have a light edge, the tube is dark purple.
- ‘Little Dorrit’ (‘Little Dorrit’) lilac-purple background is diversified by dark stripes.
- ‘Negro Boy’ (‘Negro Boy’) - with flowers of a very dark saturated color, and the tube is even darker.
- ‘Paulus Potter’ (‘Paulus Potter’) - dark purple "glass" has a reddish tint - a real dark purple color.
- ‘Queen of the Blues’ (‘Queen of the Blues’) - a shade of blue, outside the flower is matte with a light edge, the tube is purple.
- ‘Re-membrane’ (‘Remembrance’) - has a grandiose shiny “glass”, with dark purple “scorch marks”.
- ‘Ruby Dzhaint’ (‘Rubi Giant’) is similar to ‘Paulus Potter’, but smaller.
- There is only one yellow variety in this group, but it has many names:
- ‘Mammos Yellow’ (‘Mammoth Yellow’),
- ‘Dutch Yellow’ (‘Dutch Yellow’),
- ‘Yellow Jaint’ (Yellow Giant’),
- ‘Lad-gesture Yellow’ (‘Largest Yellow’).
It comes from narrow-leaved Crocus and yellow Crocus, from which he received his bright golden color and the ability to bloom earlier than other "Dutch" for a whole week.
Group Hybrids Chrysanthus (Chrysanthus). Hybrids bred on the basis of Golden Crocus, different natural forms of two-flowered Crocus and their hybrid (C. chrysanthus x C. biflorus).
They are not as large as the "Dutch", but complement their lilac-purple palette with a variety of yellow and bluish hues. On sale, they, like species crocuses, often go under the name "botanical".
Crocus alatava (C. alatavicus). Spring blooming. Corm in a soft parallel-fibrous shell. The flowers are white on the inside, with a yellowish throat, outside with a light purple or yellowish-brown tint, less often just white. Stigmas entire, orange. Inhabitant of mountain meadows and foothills of Central Asia.
Crocus banatsky (S. banaticus). Autumn flowering. It has a delicate pinkish-lilac perianth, and a very characteristic structure: 3 inner tepals are almost 2 times shorter than the outer ones and are lighter. The stigmas are lilac, finely dissected. Corm in a thin shell with parallel fibers and a weak mesh. It grows in mountain meadows and forests in Romania and Yugoslavia, and is also found in the Carpathians.
Crocus spring (C. vermis). Spring blooming. The flowers are pure lilac, on the outside with purple "tan" at the base, sometimes with a network of purple veins. There is a white-flowered form that grows worse. The stigmas are dissected. Corm in a thin shell with parallel fibers, slightly reticulate. In nature, it is found in mountain meadows and light forests in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Two-flowered crocus (C. biflorus). Spring blooming. It has membranous, corm shells disintegrating in circles. The stigmas are whole. He has multi-colored natural forms, among which are pure white; lilac-blue, and outside with brownish spots; white with brownish-purple stripes on the outside, white on the inside and brownish-purple on the outside, bluish with darker outer tepals, and variations on these themes.
Crocus yellow (C. flavus = C. aureus = C. luteus). Spring blooming. Corm in a membranous sheath, which splits below into parallel fibers.
Crocus Zibera (C. sieberi). Spring blooming. A small Greek crocus with a thin corm shell and varying coloration: there are forms of a delicate pinkish-lilac color with a yellow center, there are white ones with purple stripes on the outside, there are also just purple ones with a yellow-white stripe at the transition to the tube.
- ‘Firefly’ (‘Firefly’), ‘Bovles Byte’ (‘Bowles White’), ‘Tricolor’ (‘Tricolor’) - correspond to the above forms.
- ‘Hubert Edelsten’ (‘Hubert Edelsten’) has pinkish flowers with a striped base, like ‘Tricolor’.
Crocus Korolkova (S. korolkovii). Spring blooming. The shells of the corm are membranous and split at the bottom into parallel fibers. Perianth yellow-orange inside, brownish-violet outside, stigmas entire. Occurs in Central Asia on gravelly slopes.
Crocus Kochi, or zonatus (C. kotschyanus = C. zona-tus). Autumn flowering. The corm is noticeably flattened, in thin shells. The flowers are lilac, up to 4.5 cm long. Homeland - the Middle East.
Crocus is beautiful (C speciosus). The best among species autumn crocuses. With large flowers, reaching a diameter of 7 cm. The flowers are painted in lilac tones with a mesh of purple veins, white in the throat. The stigmas are bright orange, finely dissected. Corm in thin light shells that easily break up into rings. It grows on the edges of mountain forests in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and the Balkans.
- ‘Cassiope’ (‘Cassiope’) is a large plant with bright pinkish-purple flowers.
- ‘Echisoni’ (‘Aitchesoni’) - with very long flowers, with sharp pale purple tepals.
- ‘Oxonian’ (‘Oxonian’) - with dark, blue-violet flowers.
- ‘Albus’ (‘Albus’) - with white flowers.
Crocus Crimean (C. tauricus). Spring blooming. The flowers are usually light purple on the inside, almost white, sometimes almost purple, with a yellow throat, dull on the outside with dark purple stripes. There is a form with a light edge.
Botanical crocuses Ruby Giant (Ruby Giant) beautiful flowers, reminiscent of a scattering of precious stones from under the white melting snow. bright flowers
botanical crocusesRuby Giant (Ruby Giant) beautiful flowers, reminiscent of a scattering of precious stones from under the white melting snow . Bright crocus flowers bring a sense of calm and positive emotions, a feeling of the arrival of spring.
flowering period botanical crocus Ruby Giant occurs in March-early April, forming graceful pale lilac flowers with a lighter petal base and bright yellow stamens. Crocus flower Ruby Giant bloom on a strong peduncle up to 10-15 cm high, has a pleasant aroma. The leaves are green with a white vein along the leaf; after flowering, the leaves grow and retain their decorative effect throughout the growing season. Botanical crocuses are widely used in all types of landscape design, when planted in discounts, alpine slides, and look spectacular in group plantings. Botanical crocuses are ideal as a potted plant, they are an excellent living gift for women on March 8th.
Everyone can create a bright and picturesque flower garden, you just need to know which plants are combined with what and where it is best to place them in the garden. If your choice fell on gentle crocusRuby the Giant, you will not find better companions than you. Along with lilies of the valley, these flowers are among the first to bloom, so you can combine them in planting with your crocuses. Due to their low growth, these primroses are best suited for potting or container planting, as well as for decorating alpine slides and rockeries. Plant in groups of 15-20 to create flower islands, but if you want to completely cover the garden with these flowers, then you will need at least 70 pcs of primrose bulbs. |
Crocuses prefer sunny, wind-sheltered, loose, well-drained soil. Dig up crocuses in June after the leaves have dried. The recommended time for planting crocuses is August-September, when the bulbs are at rest. When planting crocus bulbs in pots, they are transferred to a dry, well-ventilated room with a temperature of 18-20C. Planting depth 5-15 cm depending on the size of the bulb, the distance between crocuses 7-10 cm apart. Reproduction of crocuses occurs by children - daughter corms, which are formed from buds sitting in the axils of the scales. Most crocuses are winter-hardy, but in autumn it is better to cover the planting of bulbs with leaves, which are removed with the advent of spring.
Delivery of crocuses Ruby Giant (Ruby Giant) carried out using the services of the Russian Post and transport companies, delivery by air mail and courier is possible.
In order to order and buy crocuses Ruby Giant (Ruby Giant) in our online store of seedlings and flowers, use the "Add to cart" button, after filling which, click "Place an order".
Only professional series of planting material are on sale, which will guaranteed variety, excellent quality and high potency. The price of crocuses is per package.
Delivery terms:
Sending orders with flower bulbs: from September 1 in autumn (shipping restrictions according to the customer's climate zone).
Crocus is a delicate primrose that has been attracting flower lovers for centuries with the beauty of its buds. It is this flower that is one of the first to welcome the coming spring, and it is quite possible to grow it on the windowsill. If you plant a crocus, home care will not require much effort, and very soon it will delight the owners with magnificent flowering. This is one of the simplest and at the same time charming houseplants.
Appearance and flowering period
Crocus has been grown for many hundreds of years, it is widely distributed in natural conditions in the Mediterranean countries, in Eastern Europe, it is also found in Central Asia. It is known that this flower was highly valued by the Egyptian pharaohs.
Crocus is a perennial bulbous plant, it is part of the botanical family of iris, which has several dozen genera.
In total there are more than 100 types of crocus. and some of them bloom not in spring, but in autumn. If you plant two types of crocuses in a room, they will be the first to welcome spring and become the last symbol of the outgoing summer. Grow them both in the garden and at home.
Crocus features:
- The height of the crocus stem can reach 25 cm, at the root there are several scales that make the plant somewhat similar to a tulip during the flowering period. The flower is goblet-shaped, it has six petals, which can have a very different color.
- Any variety of crocus has yellow or orange stamens, this is one of the distinguishing features of the plant.
- Flowers can be both single-color and two-color: white-blue, bluish-lilac, etc.
- Blooming crocuses can be a real treat: bright buds brighten up any room. moreover, you can adjust the flowering period to a certain date: for example, you can make the bud fully bloom by March 8 or by Christmas.
- These are photophilous plants that prefer well-lit places. When choosing a place for crocuses, you should prefer the south side of the house: this will provide the plants with sunlight. If they grow in the shade, the buds will not fully open.
- The second important condition is necessarily drained soil. If moisture stagnates in the soil, the bulb will begin to rot very soon. Coarse river sand can be used as drainage, gravel is also suitable.
- Watering should be moderate, but regular. During the entire dormant period, the bulb should be in a dry environment, it is not necessary to spray it.
- Indoor crocuses do not like acidic soil, it is best to choose loams that will not retain moisture. Depleted soils are diluted with rotted manure mixed with lime; leafy soil can also be used.
- When transplanting, it is necessary to use only fresh soil, it can consist of turf and leaf soil, as well as clean sand. When transplanting, you can add a small amount of mineral dressing. containing potassium and phosphate.
- The normal temperature in the room is 18-20 degrees; in winter, the bulbs should be kept in a cool room at a temperature not exceeding 10 degrees.
- Shallow and wide pots are chosen for planting, and if several bulbs are planted in one container, they should not come into contact with each other, as well as with the walls of the pots.
- Often, a thick layer of sand is placed in the pots first, and a layer of soil is placed on top. This will provide both root nutrition and good drainage.
- The top of the bulb is sometimes left on the surface, but more often it is completely buried in the ground.
- After planting, pots with bulbs are placed in a dark room for about 2 months.
- During this period, the bulbs give roots, they should take root well. After that, the first green sprouts will appear.
- When their height is 3-5 cm, the plants are taken out into the light, they should grow at a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees.
- It is important that the temperature is not higher: in this case, the crocuses will grow very quickly, and they will bloom in the shortest possible time.
- It is necessary to choose the right variety of crocuses. There are more than a hundred of them in total: there are early and late varieties that you need to consider if you want to get beautiful buds by a certain time. In addition, there are large-flowered and small-flowered varieties: it is better to give preference to the first of them. Small-flowered crocuses look far from being so impressive.
- It is impossible to plant crocuses of several varieties in one common container: they will have different stem heights, in addition, due to different flowering periods, it is impossible to strictly observe the forcing conditions. As a result, the pot will be in the sun when the root system is not yet sufficiently formed in late varieties. As a result, plants will not be able to produce large buds.
- It is advisable to plant bulbs of approximately the same size in a container. Small bulbs bloom later, so it will not be possible to achieve uniform, friendly flowering.
- Exposure of plants in the first period after planting in the ground should be carried out in a cold room. An attic, a cellar will do, in an apartment the bulbs can be placed on the loggia, if you create an artificial blackout.
- Before bringing the crocuses into the light, you need to feel the sprout that has appeared: it should be as dense as possible to the touch, this indicates that the plant is already ready for forcing. If the sprout seems loose, the time for the light phase has not yet come.
- Blue Vangart is one of the Dutch varieties that has an interesting bluish-purple bud with bright yellow stamens. Belongs to the number of early-flowering large-flowered, such a plant will be the best decoration of the room.
- Remembrance is a large-flowered variety with goblet dark purple buds. The plant has a very early abundant flowering: it begins to bloom in March or April. It has a strong erect stem, can be grown both in the garden and in the room.
- "Joan of Arc" - a variety of crocuses with large snow-white petals and bright yellow stamens. Great for growing on a windowsill, can be a good decoration for a flower bed.
Growth and flowering conditions
Crocuses are characterized by a short growing season, like many other types of bulbous plants.
In the spring, they begin active growth, and by mid-summer the leaves completely dry out and fall off. The aerial part of the plant should completely die off, after which the bulb goes into a dormant phase, it should restore strength for the next flowering period. To ensure that crocuses grow quickly. they need to create conditions that will be as close to natural as possible.
Basic principles of growing at home:
Forcing crocuses at home
For storage and subsequent planting, it is necessary to choose the most dense bulbs. having a large mass. All their shells must be intact, there should be no softened areas on the bulb, indicating the onset of decay. They are transplanted into the ground about three months before the desired flowering time. For example, if you need to get flowers for the New Year, the bulbs are planted in the ground around mid-September.
Bulbs can be stored only after two weeks of airing, this will prevent the development of decay.
Planting and transplanting crocus:
If the plant has little light, it will not be able to give a big bud.
Bulbs should be watered sparingly. crocuses are classified as drought-resistant bulbous plants, so they calmly tolerate the drying of the topsoil. Watering is continued until the leaves of the plant completely fall off. regular watering after flowering will allow the bulb to gain enough moisture and nutrients for the subsequent dormant period.
Secrets of forcing crocuses on the windowsill
In general, caring for crocuses is quite simple, but if you know certain subtleties and nuances, you can not only get abundant flowering, but also achieve buds by a certain date.
A few growing features that experienced flower growers use:
During flowering, pots with crocuses should also be in a cool place, for example, near a window or balcony frame.
Experienced flower growers know one more secret of prolonging flowering: during this period, the plants need to be removed at night in the cold: if the night temperature is only about 3 degrees, the duration of flowering can be significantly increased. Overheating the plant has the opposite effect: if the temperature is above 20 degrees, the crocus can bloom in a few hours.
Reproduction and selection of varieties of crocuses
Crocuses reproduce most often by daughter bulbs, planting material for purchase is chosen at the very end of summer or at the beginning of autumn. Every year, each bulb produces several babies that can be used for subsequent forcing.
In some cases, seed propagation is used, but it is used quite rarely.
Most often, seeds are used for breeding work: such reproduction will allow you to get buds of unusual colors, which can decorate both the window sill and the flower bed. However, if you use seeds, you can get the first flowering no earlier than after 3 years.
Most often, large-flowered Dutch hybrids are chosen for home cultivation, which are distinguished by their endurance and very beautiful flowering. These varieties are propagated by bulbous children. You can buy them at any specialized store.
A few common orts:
Each variety of crocuses is unique in its own way: you can choose plants with yellow, blue, purple, white and other buds. Several pots with crocuses of various varieties will allow you to create the most interesting decorative composition at home. This is a great option for home gardening. and subject to the technology, the bulbous plant will delight the owner with abundant and long flowering.
More information can be found in the video.
How to plant and care for crocuses in the garden and at home
After a snow-white winter tablecloth, saffron (crocus) in a summer cottage or in a city apartment will give an excellent bouquet of positive emotions. If you like crocuses, planting and caring for them must be done correctly. Failure to meet at least one prerequisite will provoke a rapid and transient flowering. Having the necessary information will allow you to succeed in such a seemingly troublesome business.
Since, with the onset of the first warm days, everyone rushes to their summer cottages, we will talk about how to enjoy crocuses in open ground in the country. However, given the fact that many people like to treat their loved ones to this plant on New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day, you will learn how to grow these flowers at home.
Growing crocuses at their summer cottage
These flowers appear in the country at a time when the weed is in a deep stupor, which eliminates the need for weeding. Melting snow provides crocuses with enough moisture, and living in the same place for 4-5 years requires only a well-chosen site and timely planting.
Choosing a landing site
Flowers prefer a sunny area. Due to the lack of heat and light, from March to April, their buds simply will not open.
However, the site must be protected from drafts and cold winds, which can harm blooming flowers.
Crocuses need light and well-drained soil. Since the sandy loam soil perfectly absorbs moisture during the snowmelt period, planting in this area will benefit the flowers. It must be remembered that these plants need soil with high acidity.
When the territory of your site consists of soil that does not absorb water well, provide artificial drainage. For this purpose, add coarse river sand or fine expanded clay to the soil, and dig everything thoroughly before planting. Stagnation of water is detrimental to crocus bulbs.
Enclose the territory in the country where flowers are planted with a small fence or otherwise mark this place. This structure will allow you not to lose the bulbs, which will go deep enough into the ground. Read more about growing crocuses in a summer cottage in the next video story.
Watering the soil and loosening
This plant appears in a period when the soil is still sufficiently moist, and waterlogging is unacceptable. However, it must be remembered that in order to retain moisture, the soil must be loosened to destroy the microchannels through which moisture evaporates.
In the case of a little snowy winter, flowers in the country should be watered immediately after the first sprouts appear. In this case, loosening should be carried out immediately before watering. This will allow the water to be well distributed over the lower layers of the soil. If the first rain has not passed before the flowers appear, crocuses are watered as the soil dries.
Crocus fertilizer
The first dressing is applied at the same time when the flower is planted. During this period, he needs potassium and phosphorus. Since nitrogen fertilizers can harm him, they are applied directly to the wells.
If the planting was carried out in the autumn, then in the spring of next year, it will no longer be needed. However, it must be taken into account that every year the soil under them is depleted. And it is necessary, for their better development, to dig up the plants every time, and fertilize the soil again in the spring. However, you can feed crocuses not only when they are planted, but by fertilizing the soil by adding mineral nutrients directly to the water in the spring before watering the bulbs.
To introduce organic fertilizers into the soil, compost is added to the planting hole.
As a rule, fertilizers are applied the first time after the appearance of the very first sprouts, the second time - during their flowering period and the third time, when the plants have already withered. Such a scheme provides an opportunity for corms to form correctly.
Important advice from the editor!
If you are experiencing problems with the condition of your hair, special attention should be paid to the shampoos that you use. Frightening statistics - in 97% of shampoos of famous brands there are components that poison our body. The substances that cause all the troubles in the composition are designated as sodium lauryl / laureth sulfate, coco sulfate, PEG, DEA, MEA.
These chemical components destroy the structure of the curls, the hair becomes brittle, loses elasticity and strength, the color fades. Also, this muck gets into the liver, heart, lungs, accumulates in the organs and can cause various diseases. We recommend that you refrain from using products that contain this chemistry. Recently, our experts conducted analyzes of shampoos, where the first place was taken by funds from the company Mulsan Сosmetic.
The only manufacturer of completely natural cosmetics. All products are manufactured under strict quality control and certification systems. We recommend visiting the official online store mulsan.ru. If you doubt the naturalness of your cosmetics, check the expiration date, it should not exceed one year of storage.
Growing crocuses in an apartment, at home
If you do not have a summer cottage, but have an irresistible desire to give crocuses for the New Year, Valentine's Day or March 8, it is possible to plant and grow these flowers at home.
The main nuances of growing
Before you provide flowers with proper care, you must first make the right choice. As indoor flowers, it is necessary to choose flowers from early-flowering varieties.
- Give preference to varieties with large flowers. Otherwise, even the most thorough care will not help to get a decent result, and all the flowers will have to be viewed with a magnifying glass. Only in the photo all crocuses look the same.
- Select the bulbs carefully, discarding all small and damaged tubers.
- The larger the tuber, the sooner it will germinate and please with flowers.
- Plant bulbs of the same variety in one pot.
Landing Rules
Before planting, the bulbs are stored at an ambient temperature of +5 +9 degrees. For planting, moist, neutral and breathable soil is acceptable. When purchasing bulbs in the fall, do not be surprised that some have already sprouted. In order for the plant to bloom, hypothermia lasting at least 3 months is necessary.
It is necessary to provide the necessary care for the plant at home from the moment the container for planting is selected. It should be wide and shallow. When planting a plant in the walls of the house, take care of maintaining the distance between the corms. The method of planting is not fundamental.
After planting, crocuses must be watered abundantly and placed in the place where the previously indicated temperature regime prevails: basement, refrigerator, cellar.
This will be the care of the plant, or rather, the first steps that are necessary at home, as a "deception of nature."
The first sprouts of flowers in the walls of your house should please at the beginning of the third week. As shown in the photo above. This will serve as a signal that further care is changing again. The plant is transferred to a warm room, the temperature of which is between +10 to +15 degrees, placing them under direct sunlight.
For long-term flowering at home, it is necessary to observe a temperature regime of no more than +15 degrees. At a temperature of +20, crocuses at home fade within 24 hours.
As you can see in numerous videos, watering crocus bulbs is especially necessary during the forcing period. The signal for watering will be the drying of the top layer of soil in the pot. The water accumulated in the pan must be removed.
Decorative species and varieties of crocuses
The genus of crocuses or saffrons is quite numerous, includes about 80 species, about half of them are used in decorative floriculture. In the gardens, both natural forms and varieties and hybrids created by breeders are grown. The classification of natural species is quite complex, and has changed several times in the last 200 years. It is currently accepted to divide the genus into two subgenera, Crocus and Crociris, based on the structure of the bulb and the presence or absence of an involucre at the base of the flower arrow.
The subgenus Crociris contains the only species crocus banatsky (C.banaticus). 10-14 cm tall, with funnel-shaped perianths, the color of which varies from light purple to dark purple. This flower, which blooms in September, grows wild in Romania, is considered rare, but the easiest to cultivate, has an unusual shape resembling irises. Its inner rounded segments are half as long as the pointed outer segments, yellow anthers effectively contrast with dissected pale purple stigmas.
The subgenus Crocus includes all other species, which are conditionally divided into 15 groups or series, differing in the structure of the corm shells. Not all of them are of interest for decorative floriculture. some consist of one or 2-3 fairly rare wild varieties not used in culture.
In the gardens, mainly plants belonging to the following groups are grown:
return (verni) (K. Spring and Tomasini);
orientales (orientales) (k. Korolkova).
By the time of flowering, spring and autumn crocuses are distinguished, and since usually yellow and blue petals are not found simultaneously inside natural species, they are divided into yellow-flowered and blue-flowered by color. The exception is the golden crocus, perhaps in this case the blue-flowered forms are of hybrid origin. White specimens are less common in nature, more common in blue-flowered species.
Varieties of crocuses are very numerous, currently there are about 300 of them registered in the world. Below are descriptions and photos of crocus species most often used in cultivation, as well as the most popular varieties and hybrids recommended for cultivation in our country.
Crocus blue, blue and white may bloom in autumn
Flower crocus blue in the photo
They bloom in September-October, are less common in our gardens than spring ones, meanwhile they are less demanding on lighting, resistant to diseases and very decorative. In central Russia, it is recommended to grow.
What do these spring flowers look like:
Large-flowered crocuses or Dutch crocus hybrids were bred at the end of the 19th century, as a result of crossing spring, yellow and narrow-leaved crocuses. Unlike wild-growing species, they bloom a little later - from March to April. But what kind of flowers do they have? This is just a miracle! They are large and bright: pot-bellied cups of flowers and reach a height of 5-10 cm. The petals are painted in the most intense colors: purple, purple, yellow, blue, lilac. Snow-white and striped two-tone varieties are also common. In the center are contrasting bright yellow stamens. Flowers solitary or in "bouquets" of 2-3 pieces.
Large-flowered crocuses are one of the most hardy types of crocuses. Therefore, they should grow in every garden! The foliage of large-flowered crocuses appears at the end of flowering. Outwardly, the leaves look like blades of grass. In the center of each leaf there is a light strip.
Dutch large-flowered crocus varieties used for distillation at home. If you are new to forcing, we recommend purchasing Dutch planting material. These bulbs are already sorted and prepared for forcing. Having landed them, you will not have problems with distillation. Such bulbs in specialized stores can be purchased until the New Year.
To have blooming to large-flowered crocuses for the New Year, purchase the bulbs at the end of August - the first half of September, and immediately start cooling. This is done so that the bulbs "believe" that winter has come. If you need blooming crocuses by March 8, just increase the cooling period. You can calculate the flowering time in advance. Bulbs cool and take root for about three months.
When choosing planting material, pay attention to the appearance of the bulbs so that there is no damage (rot or mold), they should be dense to the touch.
Application:
These crocuses look good in group plantings in flowerbeds, lawns, under the crowns of trees, borders and rock gardens. Suitable for growing in pots and tubs. Grow in full sun or partial shade. They bloom for a long time - from 10 to 17 days, depending on the variety. To save space in a flower bed or container, crocuses can be planted on top of other bulbous plants. Divide and replant every four to five years. Attention! Mice can eat corms. The flowering period is March-April. Plant height - 8-15 cm.
The best varieties :
Crocus vernus pickwick (Pick Wick)
Crocus Yellow Giant – New! Hybrid. Crocus "Yellow Giant" is absolutely amazing! This variety has sunny golden yellow flowers with an orange tinted centre. It multiplies quickly and blooms very early. Its color, winter hardiness and early flowering make this plant popular and in demand among flower growers. Other name: spring saffron. A perennial ephemeroid plant that belongs to the Kasatikov family. This is one of the late flowering crocuses. This variety captivates with large elegant flowers! Each corm forms several golden yellow flowers with a sheen. They open on sunny days and close on rainy days and at night. The shape of the flowers is cup-shaped. The stigmas are yellow-orange. The leaves are shiny, narrow, dark green. This hybrid is ideal for growing in containers. Plant height - about 10 cm, width - 5 cm. It blooms for 3 weeks in March-April.
Crocus vernus Flower Record (Flaver Record) - this flower attracts bees, butterflies, birds to the garden, as their large flowers of light blue with a hint of purple are emphasized by yellow-hot, thin queens that can be seen from afar. They reach a height of 12 cm and look great in a clearing or on an alpine hill. Bloom in April.
Crocus vernus Jeanne d' Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) This plant is suitable for growing both indoors and outdoors. It has snow-white flowers with a pale lilac base. They reach a height of 8-15 cm and look great in a clearing or on an alpine hill. Bloom in April.
Crocus Remembrance - hybrid. Other name: Spring saffron. This is one of the late flowering crocuses. First appeared on the market in 1925. This variety captivates with large elegant flowers! Each corm forms several purple-lilac flowers with a silvery sheen. They open in sunny weather or when it is clear and close in rainy weather and at night. The shape of the flowers is cup-shaped. The stigmas are yellow-orange. The leaves are shiny, narrow, dark green. They begin to grow from the bulb during flowering, and fully develop after flowering. It looks good in groups on lawns, in rockeries, in a flower bed in compositions with other early-flowering low-growing plants. Ideal for growing in containers. Plant height - 10-15 cm, width - 5 cm. It blooms for 3 weeks in March-April.
Crocus Grand Maitre - Hybrid. Giant crocus! Other name: Spring saffron. An ephemeroid plant that belongs to the Kasatikov family. Released in 1924. This is one of the late flowering crocuses. And you can't take your eyes off the beautiful flowers! They are large, bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, lavender blue with a slight hint of purple. The branched stigmas that protrude from the corolla are orange in color. They create a bright accent and attract attention. The leaves are shiny, narrow, dark green in color, with a silvery-white mark in the middle of the leaf. They begin to grow from the bulb during flowering, and fully develop after flowering. Corms are large, flattened. They usually produce 2 flowers. This variety grows up to 8-15 cm in height and up to 7 cm in width. Ideal for growing outdoors and in containers. Flowering time is mid-spring.
Crocus King of the Striped (King of the Striped) - white petals with lilac-purple stripes and yellow stamens look very beautiful. When closed, the crocus flower resembles a glass in its shape, and when open, it resembles an asterisk. In height, these flowers reach 8-13 cm. They bloom in March - April.
Crocus Yellow Giant – New! Hybrid. Crocus "Yellow Giant" is absolutely amazing! This variety has sunny golden yellow flowers with an orange tinted centre. It multiplies quickly and blooms very early. Its color, winter hardiness and early flowering make this plant popular and in demand among flower growers. This is one of the late flowering crocuses. This variety captivates with large elegant flowers! Each corm forms several golden yellow flowers with a sheen. They open on sunny days and close on rainy days and at night. The shape of the flowers is cup-shaped. The stigmas are yellow-orange. The leaves are shiny, narrow, dark green. Plant height - about 10 cm, width - 5 cm. It blooms for 3 weeks in March-April.
Crocus Flower Record(Flower Record) - this flower attracts bees, butterflies, birds, as their large flowers of light blue with a hint of purple are emphasized by yellow-hot, thin queens that can be seen from afar. Crocus is one of the earliest flowers to appear after winter. They reach a height of 12 cm and look great in a clearing or on an alpine hill. Bloom in April.
Crocus vernus pickwick (Pick Wick) - small light petals with purple plumage look good on an alpine hill or in flower beds. It is possible to grow crocus in pots. They reach a height of 8-13 cm. They usually bloom in April.
Crocus vernus Negro Boy (Negro boy) - dark purple petals with a purple-black base are combined into one flower with bright yellow stamens. They reach a height of 10 - 15 cm and look great in a clearing or on an alpine hill. Blooms in March - April. The best time for planting is August-September, when the plant is still dormant. Optis = low time for planting: autumn, until early November.
Crocuses are one of the very first early-flowering spring small-bulb flowers. Currently, more than one hundred species and varieties of these beautiful plants are known. However, in our gardens and parks they are undeservedly rare. Some believe that it is pointless to plant them, because they bloom too early, when no one else goes to the country. Others classify them as too exotic plants. Having carefully considered all the arguments and photos below, you can easily see that this is not entirely true.
Crocus is a bulbous plant belonging to the iris (iris) family. It grows in Europe, Western and Central Asia. Blooming crocuses are a truly impressive and very beautiful sight. These are one of the first heralds of the awakening of nature and the final arrival of spring. In the field, they bloom much earlier than most tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Plant a dozen 3-4 crocuses in different parts of your garden, and even better - several hundred different varieties of crocuses and other early spring small-bulbous ones, and spring will come to your site a few weeks earlier than to other inhabitants of your garden partnership. But you still have to go to the dacha, starting from the end of March - the beginning of April, to open roses, conifers and other plants, put things in order on the site and make the first spring pruning of plants.
Crocuses usually have small corms that are flat, flat-round or spherical in shape, covered with a membranous sheath. The flowers are goblet, directed upwards, with 6 petals on small shortened stems. Blooming flowers can have a star-shaped or cupped shape and a wide variety of colors. The leaves are small and narrow, linear, dark green, often with a white stripe or veining in the center. Every year, the old corm is replaced, and in its place 2-5 new corms and a baby are formed. Flowers are pollinated by insects. The ovary is formed underground, but over time, the fruit (a trihedral box with seeds) is pushed to the surface, where the crocus seeds ripen. If they are not collected in time, self-seeding may occur.
Crocus bulbs are edible, so they often attract a variety of small rodents. They can be boiled, baked or cooked in some other way, but the most valuable part of the plant is their stigmas, from which a very expensive and tasty spice, medicine and natural dye are prepared.
The species diversity of crocuses is simply amazing. There are a lot of not only different species, but also many different varieties and hybrids created on their basis are known. There are quite a few different classifications of this interesting plant, but all of them, as a rule, are too cumbersome and not always perfect. In my opinion, the most simple and perfect is the classification proposed by D. G. Hession. He divided all crocuses into 3 groups, differing in flowering time and flower size.
early spring crocuses
This group includes several species, but the most widely known and common - Crocus aureus, or golden (Crocuschrysanthus), which is often called the snow crocus because of its early flowering .
Its flowers and leaves reach a height of 8-9 cm. Its flowers are medium-sized, of various shades and colors, mostly yellow, cream and blue, with clearly visible stigmas. They appear very early in spring, sometimes even simultaneously with snowdrops, practically among half-melted snow. This bloom is very spectacular, as it is the very first and brightest, and heralds the final arrival of spring. And although frosts will return repeatedly and even snow will fall several times, nothing will stop the development of this beauty. This species is distinguished not only by abundant flowering, but also by a pleasant weak aroma. Known varieties - representatives of this group: Blue Pearl, blue-blue with a yellow bottom; E. A. Bowles - with large dark yellow flowers for this species; Cream Beauty - with creamy yellow with orange stigmas; Princess Beatrix, blue with yellow base; Snowbunting is white with a yellow base. And in two or three weeks, depending on weather conditions, larger spring-blooming crocuses will bloom.
spring blooming crocuses
These are the most famous and widespread crocuses in our country. They are also called large-flowered or giant crocuses. They bloom in March - April, a week - two later than the representatives of the previous group. Moreover, all plants of this group are noticeably larger than the varieties of the Chrysanthus group. Their height can reach 12-15 cm. Most of the well-known large-flowered hybrid crocuses are based on spring crocus(Crocus vernus) by crossing different species. The flowers of this group have a wide variety of colors and shades - from snow-white to light purple and dark purple, not only yellow.
The most famous varieties of this group: Jeanna D "Arc - snow-white flowers with a purple base; King of Striped, Pickwick and Striped Beauty - variegated striped varieties with purple-white color. Varieties Vanguard, Remembrance and Flower Record have a lilac or purple-purple color various shades.
The variety of spring-flowering crocuses complements the large-flowered variety crocus yellow (Crocus flavus) found under various names - Golden Yellow, Yellow Mamoth, Lagest Yellow. Elegant color - purple with a yellow bottom, varieties differ crocus sieber (Crocus sieberi). The tricolor variety Tricolor looks especially cheerful, in which a yellow spot at the base of the purple petals is also surrounded by a white border.
autumn blooming crocuses
Depending on the species and region of growth, flowering in this group of crocuses lasts from September to early December. However, in autumn-flowering crocuses, leaves, like in all other species, appear in the spring and die off around mid-June. This group includes: Crocus pale ocher (Crocusochroleucus), with small creamy flowers, Crocus hololithous (Crocus nudiflorus), with purple flowers Crocus longiflora (Crocus longiflorus), blooming in November Crocus flattened (Crocus laeviatus), one of the late bloomers.
Crocus beautiful (Crocusspeciosus)- the most common type of autumn-flowering crocuses. It blooms in September, before all other crocuses. Flowers up to 20 cm high, with small longitudinal veins, purple, lilac, blue and white. Very unpretentious. Growing, over time, it can occupy very large areas. All autumn crocuses look good against the background of various stonecrops, perennial asters and, especially, brightly colored ornamental shrubs or various conifers.
A special place among autumn crocuses is Crocus sativa, or saffron (Crocus sativus). It is his stigmas with stamens that are the valuable medicine, seasoning and dye, which is obtained during industrial cultivation and sold for big money. Dried stigmas of saffron contain essential oils, calcium, phosphorus, glycosides, vitamins, and the dye crocin, which dissolves in water. This dye was used to dye clothes in bright sunny colors long before our era. As a spice, saffron has a bitter-spicy taste and a very pronounced smell. It is added to flour products, in the preparation of meat, fish, and various rice dishes.
Crocuses in the landscape
Crocus bulbs can be found on sale from mid-August until almost December. Any blooming crocuses look very good in small groups, creating their own unique pattern. Usually they reach only 8 - 15 cm in height, and therefore they are practically of no interest to vandals, and they raise the mood for several weeks in advance! Past my windows, dozens of mothers, grandparents are leading their kids to kindergarten. And when every year dozens of crocuses bloom in front of my windows, kids and their mothers simply cannot be torn off from this spectacle!
So, let's look at some of the most common options for using crocuses in garden, park and backyard design. Due to their small height, amazing unpretentiousness and a large number of very bright and colorful colors, crocuses are ideal for small flower beds in front of residential buildings and offices, for rockeries and alpine slides. At the same time, their flowers often have a delicate pleasant aroma that attracts the first spring insects and sometimes even butterflies!
Crocuses will look equally attractive along the edge of borders, along paths in the garden, in parks, in the foreground of mixborders and in floor vases. The flowering time of crocus in the middle lane usually falls on the end of March - the middle or the end of April and can last up to five to six weeks with the right selection of varieties. Skillfully choosing a place for planting, you can significantly extend the period of their flowering. For example, at the southern wall of the house they will bloom 2-3 weeks earlier than in some shady place, and vice versa, flowering will be delayed if the same varieties are planted under tall trees, near the northern wall, a blank fence or under tall and dense conifers. .
Crocuses can be planted alone, creating mass landscape plantings, or together with early species or botanical tulips, low and medium daffodils and hyacinths. They will perfectly fit into any, even a shady corner of a garden or park, will look appropriate and original on any early spring flower bed or the edge of a nearby forest.
Few garden plants can compare in beauty and grace with blooming crocuses, pulling their bright heads towards the rays of the gentle sun. The main participants in the beginning of the grandiose early spring show, they are so funny and diverse that sometimes it is not at all easy to choose the species and varieties that suit you.
Crocuses reproduce quite easily and quickly. Usually the multiplication factor is 1:2…1:5. Therefore, once every three to four years, overgrown nests have to be divided. Dividing should begin when the foliage of the plants is completely dry. As a rule, this is done towards the end of June - beginning of July.
If your crocuses are planted in regularly mowed lawns, then the first mowing of the lawn should be done as late as possible so that the corms have time to store as many nutrients as possible through their variegated green leaves for abundant and friendly flowering next year. But as soon as you notice that the foliage of crocuses has begun to turn a little yellow and dry out, feel free to carry out the first haircut! Although my personal experience suggests that the substantially cut leaves remaining after the shearing still continue to develop and increase the green mass for some time, continuing to store useful substances for the next flowering, albeit not as intensively as they could do without a haircut. However, there is always another way out - to plant these beautiful and funny plants every year in the fall, because they, as a rule, are not that expensive, especially for those who can afford a large, beautiful and well-groomed lawn on the site.
Storing bulbs of early and spring flowering crocuses until planting in late September - October (and even in extreme cases, in early November), is similar to storing other bulbs. This is digging, drying in the open air in the shade, followed by storage in a warm (more than + 20 ... 25 0 C) and dry room. Autumn crocuses, as a rule, are planted immediately after purchase - in August-October. But it is better, if possible, to do this in August - early September.
Crocuses are not whimsical and grow on almost any well-cultivated soil, but develop better on light, well-drained and humus-rich substrates. All crocuses prefer well-lit areas, although many species and varieties are quite tolerant of shade and partial shade. But often they have time to fade long before foliage appears on many fruit trees and ornamental shrubs.
Usually, under all bulbs, it is recommended to add coarse-grained river sand with a low content of clay inclusions, as well as well-rotted manure. The planting depth of crocuses, like most bulbs, is approximately 2.5-3 bulb heights, counting from the bottom. The distance when planting between plants depends on the type and purpose of planting and varies from 3 to 10 cm. Crocuses respond well to mineral dressings. The first spring top dressing is carried out almost in the snow, the second - just before flowering. In the first case, a slight predominance of nitrogen and phosphorus is desirable, in the second - phosphorus and potassium. Consumption of fertilizers, on average, 30-40 g/sq.m.
Good luck with your experiments in growing these unusually beautiful plants!
- Crocus flower. Growing crocus. Crocus care. Crocus: description, reproduction, care, planting, use in the garden, photos, varieties and types of Crocus ruby giant description
- Alphabetical index of plants from "A" to "Z" Elderberry ornamental trees and shrubs
- Reeds: photos, recommendations for care, average price
- Potato wet rot causes