Crocus september 2011

[WimB]

In Holland you always get speciosus when you buy pulchellus 

Isn't that the other way around as what David got, Thomas?  Have you ever tried buying speciosus to get pulchellus 

Flowering here now: Crocus goulimyi

[tonyg]

Could someone confirm (or deny) please, that the crocus below is C. cancellatus ssp mazziaricus. I've had it as this for many years, from a UK nursery I think but someone questioned it recently. This picture was taken in the southern autumn. Sorry you can't see the outside but you can tell it is striped. The outside background is white or slightly creamy white.
(Attachment Link)

OK - since no-one else wants to chance an answer  I think it is most likely correct.  C cancellatus ssp mazziaricus is quite variable ... very variable in cultivation at least.  I have grown similar looking plants under that name.  Fine botanical details might confirm or refute this!

edit: sorry Thomas, missed your reply - at least we seem to agree!

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you Tony and Thomas. I shall lift them soon to pot as I have a major plan in mind so will be able to check then, on the corm tunic.  I also have to lift large clumps from a raised bed of CC nudiflorus, pulchellus, speciosus, salzmannii and goulimyi. Way out of flower now but thank goodness the foliage of each one is different and distinctive.

[pehe]

Two pots of Crocus banaticus seedlings with some variations.
One of my favorites: Crocus kotschyanus cappadocicus

[udo]

a good weekend for Crocus,
Cr.nudiflorus
   pulchellus
   speciosus ssp.speciosus x pulchellus
   thomasii

[udo]

and more:
Cr.niveus
   cancellatus ssp.cancellatus 2x
   serotinus ssp.salzmannii
and boryi

[Ezeiza]

Can you comment on your plan, Lesley?

[Roma]

I was really pleased to spot this Crocus speciosus flower.  It was planted at the same time as the heather bed but gradually became overgrown and disappeared as the heathers expanded.  It is many years since I saw a flower or even a leaf but the heathers around it have died off leaving a gap.  It is amazing that the crocus has survived so long.  I do not know if it is a named cultivar.  It came from the Cruickshank Garden and I don't remember it ever having a label.

Also flowering in my garden Crocus pulchellus which is making a takeover bid for the whole garden

And in a pot Crocus kotschyanus

[Maggi Young]

Roma, that lovely speciosus looks a bit like one we got from Alistair McKelvie. I'll see if I can find a picture.... or ask the BD if he can find one, to compare.

[pehe]

a good weekend for Crocus,

I can't say the same here. It is bad weather with rain and strong wind, destroying many flowers
Then it is good to enjoy all your fine crocus

[Hagen Engelmann]

Wim, C goulimyi have always only a short life here, so I have my pleasure with your pics.
Poul, C banaticus stand here outside for a long time. No problem since 30 years.
Dirk, C niveus ist einfach nur schön.
Roma, your C speciosus is very unusual and looks very proudly.

Here is my starter in the pot culture: Crocus mathewii

[WimB]

Wim, C goulimyi have always only a short life here, so I have my pleasure with your pics.

Here is my starter in the pot culture: Crocus mathewii

Very nice C. mathewii, mine's not out yet.

I've included a couple more pics of C. goulimyi for you, Hagen. I received two bulbs a couple of years ago from Tony (I think) and they've been multiplying okay, replanted them this year and there were 5 bulbs.

[Janis Ruksans]

I'm still alive but too busy in nursery even for checking of Forum pages. Replanting, replanting.... Fortunately ( ) got some flu and now second day I'm passing in bed and so few pictures from this autumn.
As usually the first to bloom was scharojanii flavus - here the last flower pictured a pair of days ago.
Next was Crimean speciosus - allways the earliest and with narrower segments than Turkish and Iranian samples.
Almost in same time started crocus pallasii from Crim and some of Crocus cancellatus samples.
In general flowering starts slowly but earlier than usually. Still not mass blooming started.
Janis

[Maggi Young]

I'm sorry to hear you are unwell, Janis     .... but  it is lucky for us that this gives you time to send us your pictures 

Crocus outside here are taking battering from the weather.... some brave strong individuals manage to open in a blink of sun. Brave little flowers!

[Janis Ruksans]

Few more pictures maid in last days
Crocus speciosus from Turkey with much wider flower segments
Crocus karduchorum - hope true regardless of creamy stigma, it easy hybridizes with kotschyanus
Still doubtfull about my C. hakkariensis stocks - those I got from Dirk and as you can see - all are something different by style. It easy hybridizes, too. And all are with nude throat (according B. Mathew throat must be hairy, but all my stocks has nude throat). Still not bloomed plants got from Jim Archibald.
Two hybrids
 kotschyanus x ochroleucus - quite close to kotschyanus
and very nice between
Crocus speciosus ilgazensis and pulchellus - grown from open pollinated seeds of ilgazensis
Crocus suworowianus - two marginal forms - lilacinus got from Czech collector - may be hybrid with kotschyanus, although I collected similar one in wild, too
and one of best - with very prominently striped flower segments (pictured a little too late - was in hospital when it started blooming)
and as last in this entry - Crocus hadriaticus from Mnt. Parnassos in Greece
and cancellatus damascenus from Kubbe gec. near Malatya
Janis