Crocus bulbs are easy to grow, which are well suited to growing in borders, pots and in lawns, bringing a burst of colour, in either spring or autumn.
Carpets of small purple, yellow and white flower crocus make a beautiful display, with spring flowering coming into flower as the sun warms up the soil.
Autumn flowering crocuses respond to decreasing soil temperatures. In milder autumns, flowering may not be so vigorous, if the nights aren’t cool enough.
Crocus also provide a much-needed source of nectar and pollen, for pollinating insects.
Plat crocus corms at a depth of three times their own size, in well draining or very gritty soil in a sunny location, which will multiply once established creating their own colonies.
To propagate your collection, dig up large clumps in autumn and split them into smaller ones, or clean-off individual corms and pot-up.
Crocus sativus is the saffron crocus that produces a purple flower in the autumn. The bright red style at the centre of the flower produces the delicate yellow strands of cooking saffron, used when making paella.
You will need around 150 flowers to produce just one gram of cooking saffron.
