Crocus in the garden March 2010

[Lesley Cox]

John, alas I don't have Cr. pelistericus and I suspect it would struggle if not die in my east coast of NZ climate which is overly dry in recent years. It loves water and I remember seeing a picture somewhere, maybe an AGS Bulletin with thousands, if not millions of them growing on what appeared to be a sheet of water, where snow had melted and read that it was always wet and boggy, never drying out. Better in Scotland than in Norfolk.

[Boyed]

crocus vernus ssp. vernus
crocus vernus ssp. vernus Albiflorus B
crocus vernus Dutch hybrid seedlings (virus free) from Janis, very lovely

[Boyed]

vernus 'Queen of the Blues'
flavus 'Golden Yellow'

[annew]

The Crocus vernus ssp. vernus Albiflorus B is a lovely solid flower, very nice with the dark tube.

[cohan]

The Crocus vernus ssp. vernus Albiflorus B is a lovely solid flower, very nice with the dark tube.

anne--have you had a trip to alberta? you look as though you are dressed for our winter

[annew]

Mountains of Portugal. All will become clear in time....

[cohan]

Mountains of Portugal. All will become clear in time....

sounds fun, looking forward to pics

[TheOnionMan]

crocus vernus ssp. vernus
crocus vernus ssp. vernus Albiflorus B
crocus vernus Dutch hybrid seedlings (virus free) from Janis, very lovely

Zhirair, your C. vernus ssp. vernus caught my attention (as did the beautiful 'Albiflorus'  ).  I am uploading a few photos of a Crocus that I bought mislabeled as C. minimus, but that looks like your vernus ssp. vernus.  Other suggestions were that it could be Whitewell Purple or Barrs Purple, although I don't think it is the latter, which is a lighter color than my plants, and 'Ruby Giant'.  In the photos taken almost a week ago,  I tried to take some side views to see the tubes, which are dark purple near the top, lighter at the base.

[TheOnionMan]

I've already posted photos of my Crocus kosaninii clump, but it just keeps getting better, with many flowers squeezing through and pushing up between other flowers.  This one has true flower power.

[Guff]

Uklin Strain

Will post another picture in a few days, when more are open.

[Guff]

Heuffelianus Carpathian Wonder.

Bitter cold today, maybe tomorrow it will be warm and open.

[Anthony Darby]

Mine opened in today's sunshine, albeit 8^oC!

[Armin]

'Carpathian Wonder' is real gem!

The C. chrysanthus CV blossom is almost over and the vernus hybrids dominate. However, yesterdays local thunderstorms with strong winds have flattened many crocus flowers. But I like to share some highlights with you.

crocus bed: a mix of violet colors with some yellow spots
garden view: vernus hybrids and long lasting C. chrysanthus 'Miss Vain' and 'Fuscotinctus' and 'Ladykiller'. 'Ladykiller' was unexpected strong flowerer this year.
C. flavus ssp. flavus var. lutenenz: deep yellow spot in the crocus bed. Many flowers but not as large as usual. I have this ssp. flavus also in the meadow but flowers were stronger but much less compared to last season.
C. flavus ssp. dissectus graveolens*: new for me. A real bright yellow spot. Many small tiny, figrane flowers, fine specked outside. I nice species but quickly withers as soon temperatures raise and smells unpleasantly.*see next page
C. chrysanthus 'Romance': one of the best doers in the meadow - many flowers but produces only a view seed (anthers defective, needs pollen from other cv.)
C. chrysanthus 'Brassband': was in full blossom this week - a wunderful late flowerer.
C. versicolor 'Picturatus': reliable flowerer but never many! The wild form I also grow in the meadow. I did not show flowers this year - I hope it is still there
Note: please ignore wrong 'Pictus' in the last two pictures.

[Armin]

crocus vernus ssp. vernus
crocus vernus ssp. vernus Albiflorus B
crocus vernus Dutch hybrid seedlings (virus free) from Janis, very lovely

Zhirair,
nice C. vernus species and hybrid seedlings.  
Does your C. vernus ssp. vernus set seed and which height does it have?
I have a tiny form (7-8cm height, bought 2007 as heuffelianus 'Uklin Strain'!) in my meadow which resemble yours.
It is a very late flowerer but never set seed. I have doubt it is true specis, maybe hybrid with tommasinianus?
What do you think?

[Armin]

I've already posted photos of my Crocus kosaninii clump, but it just keeps getting better, with many flowers squeezing through and pushing up between other flowers.  This one has true flower power.

Mark,
your crocus clumps are imposing.

The wrongly delivered minimus could be 'Whitewell Purple' (darker stem version) just by image. Which height does it usually grow?
As mentioned many times it is almost impossible to identify cultivars just by picture (and wrong color rendering by DSC's for pictures taken in full sun light).
Especial for so many resembling vernus & tommies hybrids it is laborious. If we cannot find a solution - so just enjoy those beauties.

Your clump of C. kosaninii is marvelous. Mine just show leaves. I was hoping to sort the suspected tommies out...