Crocus (cont.)

Snow Crocus (cont.)

Crocus sieberi

As with the other Snow Crocuses, Crocus sieberi is fairly short, and blooms very early. It is very easy to grow and will naturalize (i.e. come back year after year and slowly multiply) extremely easily. Most varieties are some shade of blue, mauve, or purple, with bright orange pistils.

One or two varieties of Crocus sieberi are easily available ("Tricolor" and "Firefly" are especially popular), but others are sometimes difficult to find. Some good places to start are: McClure & Zimmerman, Fraser's Thimble Farms, or Botanus.

Flowering time:very early spring
Plant height:3 - 4" (8 - 10 cm)
Minimum planting depth:3" (8 cm)
Hardiness zones:suitable for zones 3 - 8
Colours:white, blue, mauve, purple; may have areas of white, yellow, or orange
Shape/form:6 oval or pointed petals forming a cup-shaped flower on a short, fleshy stalk
Alternate names:Species Crocus, Snow Crocus
Latin name: Crocus sieberi
Notes:good for rock gardens, under trees and shrubs, in lawns, in beds, borders, large drifts, and containers, or for indoor forcing; native to the Balkans
Example varieties:Bowles White (white with orange centre), Firefly (lilac), Hubert Edelsten (outside deep purple with broad white bands, inside pale lilac with orange center), Tricolor (gold centre, middle white band, outer rich lilac-blue edge), Violet Queen (amethyst violet)

Tricolor Firefly Violet Queen

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Last modified: December 1, 2007