Crocus Tapestry sampler    

Sampler

Herald the new year’s renaissance with this tapestry of white, purple, lavender, gold, and striped crocus. You’ll get 25 corms – 5 each of 5 of our gems – all individually labeled. For zones 4a-7b(8bWC).

For 10, 15, or more of each, order additional samplers. Crocus care.

tommasinianus
Albus crocus     1847

Rarest

Radiant against the moist dark earth of spring, these slender-petaled stars are as eager and prolific as all of our tommies. You’ll enjoy multiple blooms per corm, and a “Starry Night” that gets better every year. C. tommasinianus, Zones 5b-8a(8bWC). Chart and care.

Blue Pearl crocus     1950

One of the “bluest” of the lavender crocuses, this mid-century classic is another enduring gift from G.H. Hageman, the godfather of snow crocus. It’s bright, lovely, and vigorous – which is why it’s still around for us to enjoy today. 3”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. angustifolius,
Cloth of Gold crocus     1587

Once known as the “Turkey crocus,” this small, early, vigorously multiplying charmer was grown in gardens by 1587 and appears in virtually every bulb catalog of the 1800s. Bees flock to it. Formerly C. susianus, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Cream Beauty crocus     1943

“The color of proper Jersey cream,” writes bulb-maven Anna Pavord, but even if you don’t know what she’s talking about it’s easy to like ‘Cream Beauty’. Pale and glowing, it was one of the first crocus introduced by G.H. Hageman, the man who made C. chrysanthus an indispensable part of spring. 3”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

speciosus ‘Conqueror’ crocus     1967

Rarest & New

This larger-flowered variety of fall-blooming Crocus speciosus brings glowing violet-blue blossoms with bright orange centers to brighten autumn beds just as most plants are going dormant, often sending up flowers before their leaves emerge fully. The cup-shaped flowers look much like their spring-blooming cousins and naturalize well where happy. Plant as soon as possible in fall to encourage first-year bloom. 3-4”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Flower Record crocus     1958

The way we see it, deep purple crocus are a spring essential, and this 1950s classic is the only one still grown in Dutch bulb fields today. We’d love to know what its odd name means. Can you help? 4-5”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. sieberi ,
Hubert Edelsten crocus     1924

Rarest

This rare form of C. sieberi was developed nearly a century ago by Mr. Edelsten, a neighbor of British garden-writer E.A. Bowles who described the man as “almost as mad about crocuses as I am” and his variety as “very beautiful.” The three outer petals are bright purple with a dramatic white band matching the white of the inner petals. Bright orange stamens add to the glory! 3-4”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.

Jeanne d’Arc crocus     1943

This multiple award-winning crocus is both vigorous and beautiful – a white so pure and luminous that it seems the embodiment of spring’s miraculous rebirth. C. vernus, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

King of the Striped crocus     1880

This long-loved Victorian king alternates mostly striped petals with mostly purple ones for a look that’s charmingly imperfect, like your grandmother’s patchwork quilt. C. vernus, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Mammoth Yellow crocus     1665

Gotta have it! This is the most popular crocus of the past 300 years, a vibrant orange-yellow like molten sun melting winter’s icy grip. C. x luteus, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. chrysanthus,
Prins Claus crocus     1967

Like other snow crocus, this eye-catching prince of the C. chrysanthus lineage is an early bloomer, distinguished by its regal deep, dark purple petals that alternate with white ones to enliven your spring garden. 3-4”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.

C. tommasinianus
Roseus crocus     1924

A PINK crocus? Not quite, but it’s the closest any crocus gets to pink, a soft lavender-rose that’s utterly unique. Adding to its charms, it opens its petals exuberantly in the sun, making a constellation of tiny pink stars that just gets better every year. Zones 5a-8a(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. sativus,
Saffron crocus     1700 BC

New

The lilac to purple flowers of the saffron crocus have been cultivated for millenia around the Mediterranean for their red-orange pistils which are used as a prized seasoning. While relatively easy to establish even in areas too warm for spring-blooming varieties, this crocus can be fickle, blooming some autumns and not others - but what a treat it is when it does! Though it can take over 4000 flowers to produce an ounce of saffron, it’s fun to grow some of your own to flavor a very special dish. Plant as soon as possible in fall to encourage first-year bloom. 4-6”, zones 6a-8b(9aWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. tommasinianus,
tommies crocus     1847

Self-sowing like wildflowers, these soft lavender pixies will sprinkle themselves through your garden and into the lawn. Rated “most rodent-resistant” by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, they’re hardy to zone 5 (some say 3) and they’re the best crocus for the South. Zones 5a-8a(9aWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Vanguard crocus     1934

The earliest-blooming Crocus vernus (and one of our favorite spring treats), this former Russian wildflower opens its platinum outer petals to reveal an exciting contrast – inner petals of soft, luscious amethyst. Zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

C. biflorus,
Weldenii Fairy crocus     1952

Rarest

This magical variety of C. biflorus, or Scotch crocus, has outer petals of light violet and silvery-white centers with a lilac blush. These diminutive sprites bloom early and naturalize well where happy. 3-4”, zones 4a-7b(8bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.