Crocus

What are Crocus Bulbs?

Crocuses, a member of the saffron family, are perennial flowers that sprout from bulbs-and they're also one of the first types of flowers to bloom in spring. These gorgeous perennial flowers are known to add beautiful colors to any garden in the late winter season and the early spring, and some varieties bloom in autumn. Crocus are exceptionally easy to grow, and require minimum care. These fragrant bulbs attract bees and provide a good food source. In addition, crocus plants are deer resistant.

While traditional crocus are relatively short flowers, growing to just a few inches in height, species of giant crocus are also available. Crocus traditionally bloom in shades of yellow, white, gold and purple. They're wonderful naturalizes, and you can find outstanding examples of crocus naturalized into a field of lawn or wide swath of garden, producing more flowers every year. Crocus are perfect for planting among taller flowers, and for providing that first shot of color in the late-winter garden.

Crocus flowers grow from small bulbs, technically called corms. Unlike true bulbs, corms are not layered. A true bulb grows a complete plant within the bulb itself, while corms have buds or eyes atop a package of energy-containing matter, with a basal plate at the bottom. Most corms produce smaller plants than true bulbs.

How to Plant Crocus Flowers?

Crocus are fall-planted bulbs, and need a cold period to pop up in spring. To plant your crocus bulbs, you'll need to choose an appropriate location. Crocus thrive in full or partial sunlight, and prefer well-drained soil. Like other bulbs, crocus don't perform well in soggy planting material. Worth the soil well before planting, and consider adding compost to increase the nutritional content of your soil and improve drainage. Next, plant your crocus corms about three inches deep, leaving three inches or so of space between each plant. Water your crocus in well, and wait for spring to roll around.

How to Care for Crocus Bulbs?

Crocus bulbs are known to be low-maintenance plants-deer don't bother them, and they're not particularly susceptible to squirrels, pests, or drought. To keep them thriving, make sure to water your crocus regularly during the spring growing season. In the summertime, crocus plants prefer drier soil as they go dormant during this season. After your crocuses have faded, you can deadhead them, but leave the foliage on for at least six weeks after they bloom. That foliage is doing the hard work of collecting energy for the next year. Crocus require little fall or winter maintenance, but, as your crocus may multiply underground, you may wish to divide them in fall.

Do crocus come back every year?

Crocus flowers do come back every year. Crocus bulbs are able to naturalize, meaning that once established, they tend to spread in the area, multiplying by creating new corms. Crocus plants make more and more flowers with every blooming season, so you'll enjoy a beautiful swath of crocus flowers after just a few years.