When it seems like winter will never lose its icy grip, the dainty goblet-shaped crocus pushes through the snow to put on a show of colorful revival. If you are not planting this perennial bulb, you are missing an early season of delight.
From snow crocuses (the first to bloom) to giant Dutch crocuses, all just 2 to 4 inches tall, these blooms offer a variety in color (pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, purples, blues, and more) that stand out against the bleak late-winter landscape. Many have strong perfumes that lure bees out of their hives in February or March.
Small bulbs like crocus not only provide winter garden color, but they naturalize, meaning that they spread and come back year after year—with minimum care—for an ever-larger display. As a bonus, deer, squirrels, and rabbits rarely bother early little bulbs.
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Crocus-saffron
Can I get saffron from crocus I've been told of a thing called dutch saffron what is it
jm
saffron from crocus
You can grow crocus sativus and harvest the culinary saffron in minute amounts. Dutch saffron refers to a company that sells these bulbs from Holland. Vendors ship in the fall and the bulbs should be planted on receipt. Search around for vendors and be sure that the plants will survive in your planting zone.
Lifting crocuses
I live in the south east of England and our crocuses finished blooming a few weeks ago but the foliage shows no sign of dying back. Can I dig them out yet?
Giant crocus color
I planted a few hundred mixed giant crocus in the fall and we're having a warm winter. I have some blooming now in February, but they're all yellow... Do yellow crocus bloom first or can soil impact color?
Thank you!
crocus bloom time vs color
Apparently the yellow blooming crocuses tend to flower first—but only by a few days to a week. That’s the suggestion of this study of bulbs for Kentucky gardeners: http://www.uky.edu/hort/sites/www.uky.edu.hort/files/documents/5204sprin... see the chart on page 3, and not the March dates at the top. Presumably those dates would vary in other gardening zones.
We hope this help…
I live in Vancouver, B.C. and
I live in Vancouver, B.C. and while my neighbours have wonderful crocuses, and though mine are planted facing south, if they come up, they are straggly and thin. I've tried everything; planting in clumps with plenty of bone meal, peat moss, rotted compost, etc. What about soil ph? Help!! Thanks, Joy
P.S. Snow drops do extremely well but I do love the colour of crocuses.
P.P.S. Other bulbs are equally problematic except for hyacinths.
Sometimes plants just do not
Sometimes plants just do not do well, Joy (sorry today…). You might consider some of the key differences between your property and that of your neighbors. Crocuses do not like too much water (was your compost/peat moss mix retaining it?). Crocus tommasinianus seems to be highly reliable—and squirrel resistant. (Did you consider that: could squirrels be your nemesis??) Some folks have best luck with little sunlight, water, or nutrients. Certainly if you plant them in a lawn or tidy your plant bed by mowing or cutting off the foliage, you are not helping the crocuses; they need the foliage to thrive.
As a last resort—or best next step—you might ask your neighbors what type they have and what their “secret” to success is. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll dig up one or two corms and give you a couple to try in your conditions.
We hope this helps, even a little.
Crocus spreading
I live in Canberra, Australia and have some crocus in a bed at the northern end of the house. They do well, very well in the cool dry climate. Three years ago I noticed one growing in the lawn about a metre (three feet) from the rest, on the far side of a narrow concrete path. I put this down to having dropped a bulb sometime but in the past couple of years they have popped up by ones as far as 5 metres (16 feet) from the rest. I could swear that I had not dropped a bulb in those spots as well. So do crocuses spread underground? I have asked this on another site but never got a satisfactory answer. Your opinion please.
G’day, mate! Certainly you
G’day, mate! Certainly you may have dropped a bulb. But in fact, some crocuses, especially Tommy crocus (Crocus tommasinianus ‘Pictus’), naturalize and spread by seed. Whether you like that is up to you, but keep in mind, too, that “tommies” are the most squirrel-resistant crocuses. (If you’ve ever planted bulbs only to wake up the next day and see empty holes in the ground, you would appreciate this.) If they are growing well for you, enjoy them. Several folks on this page would like to have your “problem.”
Cheers!
Fall Crocus
I have a nice bed of fall crocus, planted in small clusters, 8 - 10 clusters in a 3' X 7' space. They fit all the information you give for a spring crocus but I have only large 8" long green leaves in the spring when others have flowers. The leaves die about mid summer and nothing until early to mid September. A sprout comes peeking through the ground and a few days latter I have a cluster of beautiful lilac colored crocus about 4 inches tall. The first opened Sept. 2 and are still in bloom despite a couple of heavy rains which broke some of the stems.
Are these Fall Crocus and why have I not seen the bulbs for sale anywhere?
Fall Crocus
Hi Jane,
They do sound like autumn crocuses. I am not sure why you can’t find them locally, but you will see them for sale online at places like White Flower Farm and American Meadows.
Squirrels
In the East, (I live in Toronto, Canada) squirrels just live for crocus. I did some late planting of Dutch crocus in 2015 (Nov. and Dec.) about 300 bulbs. The squirrels took at least 3/4. What was even worse, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow) - which is described as being squirrel resistant - was dug up and eaten as much or more than the Dutch crocus. What managed to escape was the Puschkinia, Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica), Grape Hyacinths (Muscari Armeniacum), Tulips (dug too deep to reach) Hyacinths, Spanish bluebells, all Daffodils and some botanical crocus (too small to bother with during the Dutch crocus feast). Please tell me about your experience with squirrels and bulbs. As I'm not often on this site, reach me at Steve: boapythonblue@hotmail.com. I'm certainly not going to late-plant anymore Dutch crocus.
squirrels
Squirrels will eat anything. Our worst experiences have included tulip bulbs and peaches on the tree. You can spend a lifetime trying to defeat or trick them. So plan accordingly.
Here are some of our—and Almanac reads’—best solutions for control: https://www.almanac.com/content/squirrels
crocus sinking
hi, my sister has crocus in bloom but the stem sunk back in the ground, flower is still blooming. Any reason why
Crocus
I just bought some crocus plants if you are flowering it's late March in Missouri can I replant them in the yard?
When the crocus is done
When the crocus is done flowering, stop watering it, let the foliage die back, and put the pot in an out-of-the-way place. In the early fall, remove the bulbs from the pot and plant them outdoors.
Question about moving them
Sorry if this was already answered in the comments.
I have some crocus flowers that are blooming in the yard of a house I just moved into. It is late Feb. I wanted to move them. Should I wait until they are done blooming to dig up the bulbs and then plant them in the fall where I want or will they survive if I move them now? Do they need direct sunlight?
Don't Croke the Crocuses
Hi, Sara: It’s best to wait and replant them in the fall, and yes, they do need direct sunlight! Thanks for asking!
I have some crocus bulbs that
I have some crocus bulbs that have never been planted. It is now mid February and my crocus outside are already blooming. Should I plant the bulbs now for flowering next year or wait until the fall to plant them? If I have to wait til the fall, how should I store them until then?
If the bulbs are dry just put
If the bulbs are dry just put them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry spot. Just remember to plant them in the fall.
Crocus
Will the Crocus survive and live in doors
Through the winter ?
Crocus in winter
Hi, Linda, Crocus need a cool period (but not a freeze) to bloom properly, so the answer is no, they will not live indoors.
Planting my Crocus
I live in Washington, DC don't know my zone but when should I plant my crocuses.
This is to anybody that
This is to anybody that knows,
My dad and myself found a plant with white fuzzy fur on it, and there is also a plant growing from the middle of it.
Does anybody know what this plant is?
Dear Sir / Mam, I have a crop
Dear Sir / Mam,
I have a crop of tricolour blooming crocus in my garden.Please may I know whether I can pick the anthers for use as a food colouring?
It is not crocus sativus.
Thanking you,
K.S.Silva
Hi all :O) I need a bit of
Hi all :O)
I need a bit of advice please
I am shortly moving away from my local area (Cambridge UK) and no longer will be able to tend my mother's an father's graves.
So I had the idea of planting both snowdrops and crocuses on both graves, so there would be some early colour on the graves before the cemeteries strict lawn mowing regime (1st cut in mid April)
OK so snowdrops worked perfectly but crocuses came up blind 2 shows only
So before I move away I want to put crocuses in now before I move
I know crocuses should be planted late August to December, but I wont be here!
If I put crocus bulbs in now (mid March) will they appear before next spring? and if they do and get cut by mower this spring / summer, will they in spring 2016 reappear and have flowers?
I have tried to obtain crocus bulbs locally, and crocuses in the green unsuccessfully
Or can you suggest an alternative flower or way round my problem
OK that's in all advice and suggestions appreciated
Huge THANKS in expectation
Pete *S*
How about Mums?
How about Mums?
I have Miss Saigon variety of
I have Miss Saigon variety of purple crocuses in small they were one of those growing kits for X-mas and I would like them to flower again in December to early January.
I live tropical climate: the house is cooler than outside but the windows are made with coloured glass to keep cool and the sun out; outside temperature averages 30-40C except in cold season when it can get as cold as 22C at night but never under 20C. Monsoon is tricky as I cannot shield the plants from too much rain while keeping them outside. Would it be possible to keep these plants alive and have them flower again? I can keep the small pots in my fridge, but what shall I do the rest of the time? And when do I put the corms in the fridge?
Sorry, I should have said
Sorry, I should have said bowls, not pots: there is no drainage.
Hi there, Can I plant Crocus
Hi there,
Can I plant Crocus in tropical climate? We have no snow in the winter and not cold enough to freeze the ground
yes, probaly.
yes, probaly.
Hi there. I have just picked
Hi there. I have just picked some crocus' from an exposed paddock (dug down to get all of bulb). It was dry and the flowers were prolific. We have had heavy frosts this year (Monto QLD) which sounds like the reason they were so prolific. Just wondering if these babies will survive? Still flowering, roots at end of bulb are fat and wet (I've kept them moist). Should I plant them and hope for the best? They still look super healthy.
Although the saffron crocus
Although the saffron crocus was bred for saffron production don't all crocus produce saffron?
We have crocus bulbs but are
We have crocus bulbs but are not yard-digging people. Will our bulbs do nicely permanently in pots? According to some comments I read, crocus needs some cold temps to properly bloom. Leave pots outside or in chilly garage for winter? Thanks.
can i plant crocuses in
can i plant crocuses in toronto canada ? if yes pl let me know where to plant, inside or out side
Hi, Sanjay: You sure can, but
Hi, Sanjay: You sure can, but time is just about out for planting outside, so you need to get them in the ground this weekend at the latest!
Can I plant crocus bulbs in
Can I plant crocus bulbs in pots to be buried in the ground in the fall for spring blooming. I want to do this to prevent accidently digging them up or having them spread to other areas of my new herbaceous mix garden. I am still planting in that garden. Any advice would be appreciated.Washington state zone 6.
Hi Helen, Sure, you can plant
Hi Helen,
Sure, you can plant the crocuses in pots and bury them in the garden. The additional benefit is that the pot will also protect the bulbs from underground pests like moles.
I plan on planting my Crocus
I plan on planting my Crocus on my mound system and my husband seems to think we need to get rid of the grass first. From reading all these comments, I seem to think that it's fine to have the grass. The crocus will grow through it and then die off and after they are ground level we mow. Am I accurate in this? I have 100 bulbs to plant and I want to make sure I'm right before having a huge mess on my hands!!!! I'm in Wisconsin so I need to get planting!!!! First time with Crocus and I'm excited!!
Early blooming crocus
Early blooming crocus varieties are best planted in lawns (Crocus tommasinianus is a good variety). They bloom before the grass starts growing and die down before you need to mow the lawn. Later blooming "Dutch" crocuses are a bit trickier. You need to wait to mow the grass until the tops have turned brown to ensure repeat blooms the following spring. Also remember to not put any chemicals on the lawn where your crocuses are planted.
I live in South Africa and
I live in South Africa and have just purchased some flowering Crocus. What is the best way to plant these? Our temperatures are not as cold as in the Northern Hemisphere and I a wondering if I will be able to make them flower again next year? Maybe in a pot?
I also live in Florida
I also live in Florida (panhandle) and was sent a crocus and mixed bulbs plant that I am trying to keep alive in the house. Any suggestions? They are doing well so far but I have only had them a week. Crocuses came up first but blooms only lasted a day or two.
I also received a purple
I also received a purple crocus for Easter. I live in SE Florida so no cold weather. What can I do to preserve this for next year?
This lovely Easter gift may
This lovely Easter gift may simply be something that's enjoyed until its done blooming. Florida isn't the zone for crocus bulbs to grow in the ground.
Shucks. I guess I finally
Shucks. I guess I finally found a drawback to living in the land of sunshine.
I bought 200 crocus bulbs
I bought 200 crocus bulbs last fall but never got around to planting them (about 200 bulbs). They spent the winter in our garage which is heated to 15°C in winter. Will these still be ok to plant this fall or are they lost? Also, how should I store them for the remainder of the spring and summer to ensure i get decent results when I plant them in the fall? I'm in Quebec, Canada.
I bought 200 crocus bulbs
I bought 200 crocus bulbs last fall but never got around to planting them (about 200 bulbs). They spent the winter in our garage which is heated to 15°C in winter. Will these still be ok to plant this fall or are they lost? Also, how should I store them for the remainder of the spring and summer to ensure i get decent results when I plant them in the fall? I'm in Quebec, Canada.
I just received a crocus that
I just received a crocus that is potted for Easter. Can I keep this in the pot for a house plant?
Sometimes those gift pots
Sometimes those gift pots aren't bred to last but you could try it. Let it bloom. When it's done flowering indoors, stop watering it, let the foliage die back, and put the pot in an out-of-the-way place. In the early fall, remove the bulbs from the pot and plant them outdoors.
I live in pueblo, co, an arid
I live in pueblo, co, an arid environmemt. When and how much should i water the crocus?
Can you transplant/thin
Can you transplant/thin crocus while still in bloom or while foliage is still green? I have moved daffodils and they seem to fair well.
You are welcome to experiment
You are welcome to experiment but the gardening guidelines for transplanting bulbs are to move only after the foliage has faded. Bulbs dug and moved before foliage fades are useless.
I'm anxious to change my lawn
I'm anxious to change my lawn for this year. We are in the middle of a cold winter with loads of snow, but expecting some 50-degree weather in a few days. Can I plant crocuses during that warming period and expect them to survive? I don't mind if many of them don't bloom this spring, but wondering if they are likely to survive through next year if planted in early spring?
We love the idea of crocus,
We love the idea of crocus, but spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall as they chill. Plant in November 3 inches deep and 3 to 6 inches apart.
I ended up buying some
I ended up buying some crocuses at a co-op and they are already blooming. I live in NY were its starting to warm up but it will still have some 20's-30's days ahead. Do I keep inside this spring and plant in the Fall? Or should I plant outside now since it's already in full bloom?
I've planted all kinds of
I've planted all kinds of bulbs late in the season - even Feb! And they've come up and done fine.
Crocuses are the flower of
Crocuses are the flower of St. Valentine.
Can the crocus grow 100% in
Can the crocus grow 100% in south Africa, Gauteng? My wedding is in mid-July 2014 and need them to be perfect like picture shown above. Please advise me if I should rather import them. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thanx
I live in 8a, in Washington
I live in 8a, in Washington state. I am a new gardener, and I am even newer to the bulb concept. I bought some crocus bulbs in pots that I want to put in a freestanding planter box that I have. There are some other bulbs on our property that seem to do fine coming back every year on their own, but it does get really wet here, and sometimes it barely freezes in the winter. Is there anything different that I should do with my crocus bulbs in the planter box to keep them healthy other than watering and maybe mulching after the leaves die off?
how long does it take the
how long does it take the bulb to grow into a plant? it's my first time with bulb planting and i wonder when i'll see the little angels coming out of the soil.
It depends on the variety.
It depends on the variety. The common spring-flowering crocus is planted in the fall and blooms very early in the spring. In fact, these babies flower through the last winter snows.
thanks for the help. i
thanks for the help. i planted the bulbs in end september and was wondering whether i did something wrong as i don't see a plant till now. i live in the capital of pakistan and we have snow fall in the adjacent hilly areas but not in my city. thanks a lot again :)
Hi! When would we plant
Hi! When would we plant crocus bulbs in Zone 7b (Birmingham, Alabama)? And what is the best planting time for highest yield of saffron threads? Thanks!
Saffron Crocus is hardy for
Saffron Crocus is hardy for your zone (7b). Most nursuries ship in September; plant as soon as you receive. See more about growing this bulb: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com...
I would like to blanket my
I would like to blanket my front lawn with crocus - I ordered 1000 bulbs and wonder if you have any shortcuts or suggestions on how to plant this many bulbs. Thanks!
To plant your lawn with large
To plant your lawn with large swaths of bulbs, use a spade to dig out a planting block to the correct depth, position the bulbs and then replace the excavated soil.
After the crocus blooms and
After the crocus blooms and the leaves turn yellow and brown, I understand that you're not supposed to cut the leaves. Can I lay pine straw over the leaves so I don't have the see the yellow leaves? Thank you.
No, you should not cover the
No, you should not cover the foliage with straw. The leaves need the sunshine to be able to feed the bulb, to allow it to multiply and for the following year's bloom. Covering with straw would block the sunshine and be as bad as cutting it back. You can hide unsightly foliage by planting annuals in front of it. Or, another thing you can do is gather a clump of leaves and tie them together in a knot to make neat bundles. I don't bother doing this with my crocuses, as their foliage doesn't last long enough to bother me, but I do do this with my daffodils, which have foliage that lasts well into June and sometimes July. Good luck :)
I apologize - I must have
I apologize - I must have misread your question the first time. After the leaves have turned yellow and/or brown, you MAY go ahead and cut them down (or now them if they're growing in a lawn). The key with most bulbs is to allow the leaves to complete their cycle, as tang is what replenishes the bulb for the following year. It sounds like you already knew this, so I do apologize once again for my first unhelpful comment. Happy growing !!
The fall we after bought our
The fall we after bought our house and tilled our garden 6+ inches (to amend the soil and plant irises) we discovered a couple of spots where bulbs had been previously planted, obviously very deeply. The flowers look just like light purple crocuses. We live in a zone that is 4b-5a (4a-b growing season with 5a summer heat) and in the last 8 years those flowers continue to bloom, but have NEVER had foliage. I'm mystified! Is there a crocus that doesn't produce foliage or could that be the depth issue?
Fall-blooming crocuses
Fall-blooming crocuses produce their flowers without any foliage; the leaves appear in spring.
I moved to Vancouver, WA from
I moved to Vancouver, WA from Southern California last fall. Yesterday, I noticed crocus' popping up in my yard in various places. Its zone 8 here and the end of summer. These have no leaves just as you described and pale purple flowers. Very pretty. How to I care for them now that they are blooming in 70-80 degree weather?
Can the crocus plant be used
Can the crocus plant be used as a color die?
The Saffron variety was
The Saffron variety was traditionally used as a yellow dye.
I would like to use Crocuses
I would like to use Crocuses planted in clay pots as centerpieces for a March 8 wedding in Zone 7a, but I am worried that they will bloom too early or too late. Would you advise me on the best way to plant and store the bulbs to make this possible?
We've never timed a crocus'
We've never timed a crocus' bloom for a wedding event, but your best bet with a crocus is probably to force it in pots.
The bulbs (corms) can be forced after a cold period of about 13 - 15 weeks. Once you bring into a warm place, the bulbs will flower in 3 to 4 weeks--or even faster. Unless you've tested it out, you'll probably want to stagger your timing with multiple crocus a week apart to hit the bloom date. Here's a page about forcing crocus in pots: www.extension.umn.edu/distribu...
I want to force crocus to
I want to force crocus to bloom in October for an event. I'm in zone 8. Can I do it? If so, how?
When we force crocus bulbs,
When we force crocus bulbs, it is in the spring. Essentially, we create a warmer environment so the cold-hardy bulbs think spring has come. For fall, it is already warm. However, there are fall-blooming Crocuses which you plant in late-summer (July or August) and appear in September and October. Search Google for "fall blooming crocus bulbs" to explore the varieties and the age to maturity. "Saffron" a popular variety which grows in zone 8.
After the plant has flowered
After the plant has flowered and the leaves have turned brown, the flower produces a pod and seeds are in it. Will these seeds produce a flower? I thought that the corm only reproduced.
Though a crocus may have
Though a crocus may have seeds, the seeds are sterile and they are not for reproduction. They are not fertile. It reproduces through a corm. a swollen underground stem.
My daughter gave me a plant
My daughter gave me a plant that I think is a mix of crocuses on Mothers Day. A grass type leaf grew up as the flowers died off is this normal? Also, I live in San Antonio, Texas and our winters just aren't that cold. I also don't know what zone I'm in. Thank you.
You are in zone 8b. Bulbs
You are in zone 8b. Bulbs such as crocus need chilling (in the refrigerator) for 8 to 10 weeks before being planted each year. They may come back for a few years in Zone 8, then peter out. Tommies (Crocus tommasinianus) are the best return growers in the South. In terms of the leaves, let them yellow and die for 6 weeks after the blooms end; the leaves gather the sunlight and make the food needed for next year's blooms. See more: http://www.hollandbulbfarms.co...
Blooms are gone
I planted crocus for the first time last Fall (2012). The blooms came up for a couple weeks, looked great. Had some stormy weather, blooms are now gone. Now Ive have had flattened green leaves for a couple weeks. Do I cut them back, leave them there? If I leave them, for how long. they are in a flower bed with other flowers that will be blooming soon. Will not be mowing the flower bed anytime soon, so what now?
Leave the leaves on the plant
Leave the leaves on the plant for at least six weeks after bloom is finished or until they turn brown. If you don't leave the leaves, the bulb may not store enough food for next year's flowering. If dying leaves bother you, try interplanting bulbs with perennials or summer annuals for camouflage.
digging up my crocuses
We've had to dig up our old garden completely and I tried to salvage as many of the bulbs as I could. They hadn't completely died off, but weren't in flower. Is it worth trying to store them so I can replant the bulbs in the fall in the new garden? If so, how? If you don't think it's worth it, just say so and I'll save myself the trouble.
Kristen
Save the bulbs that don't
Save the bulbs that don't have any damage or rot (soft spots). Make sure that they are completely dry. Put them in a paper or mesh bag and store them in a dry, dark place until fall.
spring crocus planting
I REALLY want to plant my crocus mix corms, they are solid purple, solid white, solid yellow, and a white/purple stripe. I did not plant in the fall and I live in Estes Park, CO so we are still getting snowstorms until the end of May or later. I did have them stored in my unheated storage shed all winter,perhaps I can still plant them?
You can still plant them but
You can still plant them but you may not have any blooms this year. Next spring you'll get the full flower show.
Crocus corms
I have crocus which were bought flowering in 4 small pots. They have finished blooming and the plants have shrivelled. Can I plant the corms on my glazed balcony for flowering next winter/spring? It is not really spring yet here in Stockholm, Sweden. Outside the temperature will reach 11 C/51 F this afternoon and go down to 2 C/36 F at night. Thank you for your help. Edwin
You can plant the crocuses in
You can plant the crocuses in the bottom half of a pot on your balcony and then plant some annuals or herbs in the pot for the summer. Come fall remove the annuals or herbs and cover the pot with a heavy cardboard box to protect it from really freezing temperatures. Use a plastic pot (ceramic pots may crack in the winter).
Lycka till!!
Can I plant crocuses in a
Can I plant crocuses in a deep pot and bring in to the garage for the winter? My new back yard is fairly shady except for a few spots where there are not any flower beds.
You can keep the crocuses in
You can keep the crocuses in a pot in an unheated garage over the winter. They need the cold winter temps. to bloom next spring.
green leaves but no flowers - why
my crocuses have dark green leaves but no flowers They look healthy but some do not flower.
Are they in the shade?
Are they in the shade? Sometimes crocus bulbs do not flower due to lack of sunlight.
That just totally answered
That just totally answered what I was about to ask. Only it doesn't explain why a single crocus (which I planted with many others about four years ago) is blooming now.
When can you dig up and divide the corms for replanting?
When can you dig up and divide the corms for replanting?
Do not dig up the corms until
Do not dig up the corms until the foliage has turned yellow and withers. After you carefully dig them up, let them sit in indirect sunlight for 2 to 3 weeks. Then, gently separate the new corms that grow on the old corms, dust with fungicide, and store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, preferably 60 to 65 degrees F. until planting time. Plant crocus in the spring. Note that crocus can be refrigerated at 40 degrees F. for two months prior to planting or potting.
I believe that you meant to
I believe that you meant to say "plant crocus in the FALL", not "in the spring", didn't you?
Crocus from last year didn't rebloom
I live in Zone 5. The crocus I planted in Fall of 2011 bloomed in spring 2012 but haven't come back yet, don't really see leaves poking out either. Yet, the crocus I planted in Fall of 2012 have bloomed nicely so far this spring. Is there a chance the crocus that didn't bloom this spring might bloom next year? I just wonder why they didn't return. What are some of the reasons the crocus didn't return/naturalize. Could it have something to do with the planted depth? Maybe they weren't planted deep enough to naturalize? Would that cause a problem?
crocus bloom
You might give the older crocuses a little more time to pop up; weather or other environmental stress from last growing season may have delayed them a few weeks. If there are no signs of leaves, it is possible that rodents damaged the bulbs (or actually, corms). To avoid them nibbling in future, place wire mesh around bulbs at planting time. Pea gravel sometimes helps, too. In general, plant bulbs twice as deep as the bulbs are tall. Make sure the bulbs are not crowded. Keep up with watering in dry periods, even into fall, but don't overwater. Make sure they are in a place with adequate sunlight (full sun is usually best). In Zone 5, you probably have had the chilling requirements needed over winter. Do not cut the leaves of bulbs after flowering--the bulbs need the leaves to make food to survive the winter and to bloom next year.
Are the older crocuses in a different spot than the newer ones? If so, check out what possible environmental conditions may be affecting the older batch, such as shade, drainage (too close to a sprinkler?), lighting, competition with other plants (such as tree roots), etc.
bloom
Once it blooms and the blooms dies does it continue to sprout and bloom or does it only bloom once.
The crocus is a perennial.
The crocus is a perennial. So, it will bloom once a season, but it will come back year after year in the early spring. After it blooms, it will grow and store food for a period of time before dying back to ground level and becoming dormant. They will bloom well before grass starts to grow and by the time it reaches mowing height, the crocus are finished for the season.
late planting
what if you do plant crocuses in the middle of January in Oroville Calif?
Crocuses are planted in the
Crocuses are planted in the fall to bloom in the early spring because they need a cold treatment for 12 weeks to bloom. If you didn't plant, you may want to store until the fall. There are also varieties (e.g., saffron crocus) that are planted in the spring to bloom in the fall but this isn't the norm.