Crocus to identify? Post them here....

[Tiggrx]

Thanks Tony, I will investigate further

[mark smyth]

A few years ago I bought a pot of Crocus. I neglected them by letting them dry out and lost the label. They are now flowering again. The outside colour is basically the same as the inside. Is it a sieberi and what ssp?

[TheOnionMan]

I have two group plantings of Crocus that need identification.

The first one was from an "economy bag" labeled as Crocus minimus; clearly it is mislabeled.  The one that needs identification in the first and second photo is the purple one (growing behind it is C. vitellinus from a Lebanese source).  Photos 1 & 2, just to show what a difference a few days can make  It has been suggested that it is a tommasinianus or vernus type, but which one?

In the third photo, another very pretty grouping, again from an "economy bag" of corms labelled as Crocus 'Violet Queen, and here again mislabled.  It looks similar to tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant' that Michael posted a photo of recently.

Suggestions welcome.

[mark smyth]

The third photo shows one of the tomms - Whitewell Purple, Barrs Purple or Whitewell Purple

[Sinchets]

This Crocus appeared in the middle of some Narcissus a few days ago. I think this is a Crocus biflorus, but can anyone suggest which subspecies?

[tonyg]

This Crocus appeared in the middle of some Narcissus a few days ago. I think this is a Crocus biflorus, but can anyone suggest which subspecies?

Yes to C biflorus.  ssp .. well it might be ssp pulchricolor but not typical.  Thomas may suggest a cv name ?Blue Peter perhaps.

[ChrisB]

I got some tiny corms from a friend who died.  He was a botanist and grew a lot from seed.  I have no idea whether this is a species or cultivar but would be most interested to know what they are.  I've grown them on two more years now and have two flowers this year in the pot.  Any help you can give is much appreciated.  Three photos, as close as I can get with my camera:

[tonyg]

Chris B - Always interesting to see what they grow up into.  This one is Crocus tommasinianus which you can plant out and watch as it becomes naturalised if you are lucky.

[TheOnionMan]

The third photo shows one of the tomms - Whitewell Purple, Barrs Purple or Whitewell Purple

Are there detail descriptions of those tomms that can help me sort out what I have? 

I have heard of Barr's Purple but not Whitewell Purple, nor Whitewell Purple  

Found this on the 'Whitewell Purple' Tommies:
http://www.paghat.com/crocuswhitewell.html

[mark smyth]

Mark, I planted four different cultivars in four different places in the front garden. I used to know the difference but I've forgotton except for var roseus

[Maggi Young]

Those from your link are 'just' tommies, McMark, not a Whitewell Purple.... mind you, the question of Whitewell Purple is one which has exercised us well and truly over the years..... search the  SRGC forums (old and new, as I recall) and you will find pages of discussion on the matter!!

[TheOnionMan]

The third photo shows one of the tomms - Whitewell Purple, Barrs Purple or Whitewell Purple

Mark, what I was trying to convey, you mentioned Whitewell Purple twice.  Did you mean to repeat it, or just a slip and you meant to mention a second 'Whitewell something'? The way it reads, I'm guessing you meant to give me a third ID possibility.

[Diane Clement]

Mark, I planted four different cultivars in four different places in the front garden. I used to know the difference but I've forgotton except for var roseus  

The comparison page from Thomas Huber can be found on the link below.  He's recently updated all the chrysanthus/biflorus cvs but this page shows the tommies:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/5012/8868.html?1129846074
scroll down to bottom of first post for tommies.

As far as I understand it    Whitewell purple has a dark tube.  Here's a couple of pictures of mine, taken last year, they're not out yet
Crocus Whitewell Purple

[ChrisB]

Thanks Tony.  Good to have an id on it.

[Armin]

Addendum...

Mark Mc,
Mark S.
the tommies (pict.3) could be "Ruby Giant" as supposed. The picture was taken in sunshine and almost all DSC cannot reproduce the correct ruby-violet color. Cv. "Ruby Giant" has a dark stem and it is a sterile clone. The Flower is larger then ordinary tommies and has a silvery gloss. See my picture of mixed tommies.

Pict. 1 & 2 seems to be a vernus cultivar. Was the name accidentally Queen of the Blues (C. vernus) instead of Violet Queen (C. sieberi ssp. atticus)? "Queen of the Blues" has some fine stripes inside the flower.

As Maggie correctly wrote reg. "Whitewell Purple" we don't have a common opinion on the forum.
There seem to exist two commercial forms.
One form has large flowers and a dark base and stem. Late flowering. Size almost like a C. vernus hybrid.(image like your 2nd. photo).
The other form of "Whitewell Purple" is more like a tommie, early flowering, white stem (no dark base)
"Barrs Purple" for reference.