Crocus April-2016

[Janis Ruksans]

Just returned from Armenia - due starting war there returned earlier than planned - but still met crocus blooms here.
The first picture was made before going to Armenia and shows hybridization between C. cvijicii and C. veluchensis - seedlings from open pollinated flowers.
But some only started blooming in April and those are
Crocus scardicus
and
Crocus minimus - allways the last one between spring crocuses.

[anita]

The autumn crocus are in full swing in Australia. Living on the Adelaide plains I'm still trying to find species which will naturalise in the garden, and flower without winter chill.
I've found that the autumnal varieties from sea level in southern Europe do the best.
I usually grow from seed and then try some in the garden.
C goulimyi is the best adapted to date. I have two groups of bulbs which have now been repeat flowering in the garden for more than three years. The second group of goulimyi blooms are about 16 or 18 cms tall and fight their way through the violets.
C goulimyi Mani White has been the most successful and is just coming into flower now. It tends to flower later than the mauve bulbs. Seedlings from Mani White seem to be coming true so far, with only whites amongst the seedlings (the mauve ones are some distance from the Mani Whites).
A pot of C. tournfortii seedlings, shows amazing colour variation. One that has already gone over was a deep amethyst purple so the seeds (from Marcus Harvey) have covered the full range. Next year a few will go in the garden.
Apologies for the unsightly wire over the pots.. they are open grown and without the wire protection blackbirds (feral here) dig the pots out.
Anita

[Thomas Huber]

Crocus napolitanus.
Last week on Monte Amiata, Tuscany/Italy - altitude 1500m

[Thomas Huber]

Lots of variation in the flowers.
Some look like heuffelianus/exiguus.
Only one pure white between the millions....

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Hubi! So beautiful!

[Thomas Huber]

That's what it was, Maggi.
My 3rd visit on this mountain and
finally I saw them in full flower 

[pehe]

Impressive! Thank you for showing us.

I have a seed pot with a single C. napolitanus seedling so I guess I must wait a "few" years before my garden look like that......

Poul

[Thomas Huber]

Yes, it might take three years or maybe more...... but it's worth waiting 

[Anthony Darby]

My Crocus serotinus, seeds sent by Rafa and from El Aspinar, Spain, were sown in July 2011. I have my first flower today. That's nearly five years!