Plant of the Month: February

Crocus tommasinianus Common name: Early crocus Family: Iridaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 8-10cm x 2.5cm (3-4in x 1in). Form: Dwarf, cormous perennial Soil: Gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained. Aspect: Full sun. Hardiness:  Fully hardy.

Crocus tommasinianus @ Hyde Hall

One of the first sure signs that spring is on the way is the sight of crocuses and daffodils emerging from the cold winter soil and the thought that in a couple of weeks time they will be flowering, putting the winter months behind us. At Hyde Hall we have underplanted a bank of lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) with a variety of spring flowering bulbs. The display begins in January when the snowdrops (Galanthus) and winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) come into flower but the highlight of this area is the carpet of crocus that have naturlasied under the lilacs. For a couple of weeks in mid February they produce a sea of pale purple flowers, particularly when the low winter sun is shining through. Crocus tommasinianus is great for naturalizing in this way as it increases freely by seed and offsets.

Crocus

Crocus comes from the Greek krokos, saffron, derived from the Semitic word karkom, which was used in the Old Testament, and is one of the most ancient plant names. The genus includes both the common crocus and the saffron crocus. The saffron crocus, C. sativus, is grown in the Mediterranean countries for the stigma and part of the styles which are used to produce the much prized spice and a yellow dye.

This genus has about 80 species of dwarf, cormous perennials found from coastal to subalpine areas in Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Western China.

Habitats include woodland, scrub and meadows.

Flowers are small, mainly goblet-shaped and open in autumn or early spring. The 6 tepals (sepals or petals), which form the bowl of the flower, are 2-5cm (0.75-2in) long and the perianth tube is up to 15cm (6in) long.

Leaves are semi-erect, long and very narrow and mostly mid-green with pale silvery green central stripes. They usually appear at the same time or shortly after the flowers, but in some autumn flowering species the flowers appear well before the leaves.

Crocuses are best grown in drifts at the front of a border, in a rock garden or raised bed. The more vigorous species can be naturalized in short grass.

Crocus tommasinianus

This species was named in honour of Muzio Giuseppe Spirito de Tommasini (1794 - 1879), a magistrate and botanist at Trieste who was celebrated for his work on the Dalmation flora. It is found in Southern Hungary, North West Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

C. tommasinianus produces slender flowers, 2-4.5cm (0.75-1.75in) long with white perianth tubes in late winter to early spring. The flowers may be pale silvery lilac to reddish purple. The outer petals are often overlaid silver and the petal tips are sometimes darker.

f. albus has white flowers.

'Barr's Purple' has purple flowers, silvery outside.

'Ruby Giant' is sterile with reddish-purple flowers and is clump forming.

AGM

The RHS Rock Garden Plant Trials Subcommittee awarded Crocus tommasinianus an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Corm with long-tubed flowers appearing with the narrow leaves. Flowers variable, lilac to deep purple, sometimes paler outside.

Cultivation

Plant 8-10cm (3-4in) deep in full sun and gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

Plant spring flowering species in autumn and autumn flowering ones in late summer.

Mice, voles and squirrels may feed on the corms. Birds may pick off the flowers.

Propagation

Collect seed as soon as ripe, just before the seed capsule splits. Sow immediately in containers in a cold frame and leave for 2 years before planting out.

Many crocuses self-seed freely.

Remove cormlets during dormancy.