How to Grow Crocuses for a Spectacular Early Spring Display

Whether forced in pots, naturalized as a lawn, or dotting your borders, these early-season charmers brighten cloudy days

Crocuses ( Crocusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) are some of the most beloved plants in our gardens . They are often the first hopefulsign of springfor many of us , delighting both the youngest of tiddler and the old of grownup , and even the most experient gardener express pleasure to see them blooming on a sunny former - wintertime daytime , often without any notice of their arrival . Whether you force themindoors , grow them here and there outside , or instal an entire electric-light bulb lawn , they are a welcome sight when the weather is still gloomy and spring has n’t quite fully arrived .

Learn more : contrive Now for a Spring Display

Of naturally , if crocuses bloom in July , we ’d be like , “ Meh , ” as they would get lost in a world of tropic lushes , but as I always wish to cue people , even a blowball blooming in a woodland among the gray - brown dreariness of February or March would look special . Best of all , early foraging honeybees will give thanks you for provide a nectar rootage if you plant crocuses in your garden . The unspoiled news is that crocuses are still relatively cheap , and you’re able to really never plant enough .

Where and How to Plant Crocuses

Don’t crowd them out with other plants

Where to found crocus bulb ( really , corm ) is up to you , as they will look good nearly anywhere , but it ’s a good idea to locate them where you wo n’t be institute anything else later in the season . This is because most coinage will multiply over time , mainly by starting time at first , but hopefully by come once established . Crocuses favour to grow in well - drained soil in full sun to fond shadiness , but since they come forth before the foliage of deciduous trees , most smirch that will be umbrageous later in the season would be appropriate .

Be mindful of their native habitat

It ’s helpful to know where most crocus grow , as their habitat in nature is n’t a flower delimitation along a sidewalk . Most mintage grow in near - alpine weather , in the high-pitched mountains of Greece , Turkey , the Caucus range , and the Alps in northern Italy and Switzerland . Typically , they grow in grassy hayfield that are pixilated with snowmelt in late winter but dry out out in summertime .

Crocuses grow well in a variety of locations

I like to place mint of crocus bulbs under deciduous hedges where they can ego - seed or slowly propagate . Any of the species crocuses ( more on this later ) surpass in lawn plantings , which makes sense for them as they can easily be accidentally grok up if planted in the recurrent border . possibly it ’s common gumption , but just a reminder : always plant crocuses where you will see them in belated winter . This could be near an entry , under a windowpane , or anywhere where you screw the snow melts first . Be sure not to found your corms too deeply in spill ; just a couple of inch below the surface is ideal . They will naturalise well and therefore may not be at the top of your to - watershed list , but like all bulb , they can be regenerate through a variance every three to five days . revoke them for division after the foliation has completely turned brownish .

Which Species of Crocus You Should Grow

Dutch crocus

There are many crocus species , at least 80 to 100 look on which expert you follow , but only a smattering are cultivated . The most common crocus set up in garden centers and catalogs is Dutch crocus ( Crocus vernus , Zones 3–8 ) . Let ’s call it the standard crocus . It features large flowers and has several named selections that can be hopeful purple , white , yellow , or reave blank and lavender . low-toned criminal maintenance , long - lasting in the garden , and well-off to drive , it ’s hard not to detect when Dutch crocus comes into bloom . I was surprised when I first saw it produce in the dotty , gamey in the Swiss Alps in a hayfield of pasture that is also a ski slope in winter . The intact grassy hayfield was covered , and I thought , No admiration they love growing on my lawn ; it ’s the perfect place to grow them .

The best species crocuses for the Northeast

Bulb catalogs will often collocate spring - blooming crocus together into two group : Dutch crocuses , and everything else , which are often refer to asspecies crocus . I encourage you to try any of the species crocus , as almost all of them excel in colder gardens in good order down to Zone 3 . They are earlier to bloom and while much smaller in stature , they are all the more delicious as many blossom as early as tardy January if there is a mild winter , even in the North . Try any of the cultivars ofC. chrysanthus , Zones 3–8 orC. olivieri , Zones 3–8 . My tip is to choose smorgasbord with colored grade insignia on the outside of their petal , as they calculate pretty even when they are closed .

The best species crocuses for warmer regions

While most crocus do best in Zones 7b or low-toned , a few will develop well as far south as Zone 8 . Almost all specie stand out in colder garden , flop through Zone 3 . southerly gardener can , however , buy pre - chilled bulbs or could examine a few of the ‘ Tommies , ’ or snow crocus ( C. tommasinianus , Zones 3–8 ) as well as anyC. angustifolius , Zones 3–8 and golden crocus ( C. chrysanthus , Zones 3–8 ) varieties . They will bloom as long as they ’ve been exposed to a 10- to 12 - week period with temperature around 40 ° F .

Some crocuses, such as saffron crocus, bloom in fall

Lastly , I have a bit to say about fall - blooming crocuses , and particularly the saffron crocus ( C. sativus , Zones 6–9 ) , as this is important and there seems to be mental confusion or misinformation on some social media chronicle . There are indeed both fall- and spring - blooming crocus , and in fact , there are many downslope - blossom species , though most are not available in standard bulb catalogs . That said , if you do bid to get saffron , a spice that is indeed deduct from a crocus , be certain that you are harvesting stamens from the genuine saffron crocus ( C. sativus ) and not just any decline - blooming crocus , and this can be confusing as nearly all are purple . To add to the confusion , there are other plant that partake the common name “ drop crocus ” such as colchicum ( Colchicumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) , which are extremely toxic . If you have only springiness - bloom crocus , you are fine , but recognize that there is no spring - blossom saffron crocus .

To discuss these works or ask gardening interrogation , chat with a regional gardening expert on theGardening Answers forum .

And for more Northeast regional report , click here .

More on growing crocus and other springiness botch :

Spring Planting Plan for the Northeast

Spring Bulbs for the Northeast

Fall Bulb Planting for Your Region

Matt Mattus is the author of two Book : Mastering the Art of Flower GardeningandMastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening . He gardens in Worcester , Massachusetts .

Fine Gardening recommend merchandise

Plant spread over Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz / yd²

Fine Gardening get a charge for items purchase through link on this site , let in Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Ho - Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Get our previous lead , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

The Best Early Spring Vegetables to Grow

Early Spring in Pennsylvania

Early Spring in Brigitta’s Garden

Unique Plants for Early Spring Containers in the Northeast

Join Fine horticulture for a free rent live webinar have Dr. Janna Beckerman , a noted plant diagnostician as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …

When I spotted a especial sand dollar mark cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I make out I was in trouble . With a delightful colour pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we require over flora our landscape motive , each season is filled with a never - ending list of task : pruning , crimp , watering , treating , repair , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be measured when you embark the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip on something , but because you might be dive - fail by a pair …

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden

Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill

Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard

All Access member get more

signal up for afree trialand get memory access to ALL our regional content , plus the rest of the member - only content subroutine library .

depart Free Trial

close up of bright purple crocus

Dutch crocus can be identified by its charming cupped petals, true harbingers of spring when they pop open.Photo: Matt Mattus

Get complete web site access to expert advice , regional depicted object , and more , plus the print magazine .

Start your FREE trial

Already a member?enter

various crocuses growing in full sun

Crocuses grow best in full sun in well-drained sites and naturalize well.Photo: Kerry Ann Moore

Small crocus bulbs in a hand

Small crocus bulbs don’t need to be planted deeply or far apart.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra

pots of various species crocus

Look past Dutch crocus to explore species crocuses like ‘Tricolor’ snow crocus (C. sieberi‘Tricolor’, Zones 3–9) (left) and ‘Cream Beauty’ snow crocus (C. chrysanthus‘Cream Beauty’, Zones 3–9) (right).Photo: Matt Mattus

bright yellow crocus