There can be no more welcome sight in the last dreary days of winter than colorful crocuses popping up, often through the last of the season’s snows. They bring with them a delightful promise of spring. Their value in the landscape is the reason the crocus has been selected for the distinguished honor of “Flower Bulb of the Year” by iBulb, the promotional agency for the flower bulb industry. The “Flower Bulb of the Year” award is given to a particular bulb each year, selected by a committee of more than 85 affiliated bulb companies.
Crocuses bloom in hues from rich royal purple to pale pastels, some striped or splashed with contrasting colors. There are well over 100 garden varieties, the first being discovered almost 500 years ago! Crocuses have adorned gardens throughout the world ever since. The stigmas of one kind of fall-blooming crocus produce saffron, the world’s most expensive and prized spice. But all crocuses are highly decorative, especially the large-flowering varieties. Bees are also attracted, grateful for the crocuses’ early nectar after a long winter fast.
Crocuses are perfect for beds, borders and containers. One of my favorite ways to feature these colorful gems is in a lawn—as crocuses emerge in early spring, their foliage blends seamlessly with grass, and they will have usually finished blooming by the time the lawn needs its first mowing!
Planting bulbs in the fall is so easy. Dig holes that are three times the size of the bulb: most crocus bulbs are about an inch, so you would dig a hole three inches deep. Add compost or other organic matter to the hole, and drop in the bulb, root side down and pointed side up. It’s that easy. Choose a combination of varieties to extend the blooms as long as possible. Come spring, you’ll be rewarded with a cheerful display to welcome the season!
Breck’s is my favorite place to shop for quality bulbs. You can see a whole selection of Crocuses in the Breck’s catalog, or on the [CBC show=”y” country=”us”]website[/CBC][CBC show=”y” country=”can”]website[/CBC].
