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Crocus tommasinianus

early crocus

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
© RHS 2003
RHS Plant Shop from £3.99 Sold by 15 nurseries

  • Other common names early crocus

  • Family Iridaceae

  • Genus Crocus are dwarf, deciduous perennials growing from a corm, with linear leaves usually with a silvery central stripe, and goblet-shaped, sometimes fragrant flowers in autumn or early spring

  • Details C. tommasinianus has long-tubed flowers which appear in early spring, as the narrow leaves emerge; the flowers vary from lilac to deep purple, sometimes paler outside

  • Plant range SE Europe

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Tufted

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height Up to 10 cm

  • Ultimate spread 0-0.1 metre

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in a gritty, poor to moderately fertile soil

Propagation Propagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame when ripe or remove cormlets when dormant

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds City & Courtyard Gardens Gravel Garden Patio & Container Plants Rock Garden Wildflower meadow

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests Corms are vulnerable to mice, voles and squirrels

Diseases Generally disease free, corms may rot in storage

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Crocus tommasinianus

early crocus

Buy from £3.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £3.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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