Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Bulbs

Crocus laevigatus 'Fontenayi'

A small, perennial corm growing to around 5cm high, with long, narrow green leaves marked with a fine, central white stripe. Scented, goblet-shaped, pale lavender flowers, with buff-coloured outer petals streaked with purple, are produced from the end of autumn to mid winter

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

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)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
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
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in gritty, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun. If planted outdoors, protect from excess winter wet, or grow in pots that can be brought indoors to enjoy when flowering. Prefers to be on the dry side during dormancy. See crocus cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by division of established clumps, or by separating cormlets when dormant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to rodents and birds

Diseases

Generally disease-free, corms may rot in storage

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.