When it seems like winter will never lose its icy grip, the dainty crocus pushes through the snow to put on a show of colorful revival. Plant this perennial flower in the fall for an early spring delight! Here’s how to plant, grow, and care for crocuses in your garden!
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.
Crocus bulbs (technically called “corms”) 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 crocus corms.
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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!
crocus in pots
after putting pots in an out of the way place till fall do I keep watering or just let it stay dry
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.
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