Crocuses blooming in early spring are eye-catching in many gardens. But not everyone knows that the flowers of these wonderful bulbous plants can also be admired in the fall.Autumn crocuses , although less popular, are as interesting as spring crocuses. Planted in August, they will bloom in September and October. Seewhen to plant autumn crocuses , what does it look likegrowing autumn crocusesand learn about the most interesting species to grow in the garden.
Autumn crocuses - Crocus speciosus 'Artabir'
Cultivation of autumn crocuses
Autumn-blooming crocus bulbsare planted in August. They bloom from September to October. Leave the onions in the ground for the winter. In spring they will only produce a rosette of narrow green leaves, which will turn yellow and dry by June. The bulbs can then be dug up, but it is not necessary every year. Left in the bed or re-planted in August, they will bloom again in the fall.
Requirements for autumn crocusesas to the growing location and soil are the same as for spring flowering species. Therefore, we plant them in sunny positions and in humus, permeable, easily warmed up and moist soils. Place the bulbs at a depth of about 5 cm, leaving 5 to 10 cm spaces between the plants.Autumn crocuses are perfectin front of sunny flower beds and in rock gardens.
Autumn crocuses - Crocus sativus
Autumn crocuses - species and varieties
Among theautumn-blooming crocuses , in shops you can most often find saffron tubers (Crocus speciosus) and cultivated saffron (Crocus sativus).
Saffron (Crocus speciosus)blooms profusely from September. It produces flowers of a blue-purple to lilac-blue or white color, with a visible network of darker veins. Leaves appear after flowering. It reaches a height of 15 to 20 cm.
Cultivated saffron (Crocus sativus)blooms a little later - in October. Its intensely purple flowers with darker veining reach 5 to 7 cm in diameter. The prominent scarlet stigmas of the flower pistils are the source of crocin (saffron) - a valuable dye for which this plant was grown in the past. Leaves appear with flowers. The plant reaches a height of up to 10 cm. When planting this crocus, it is worth remembering that its bulbs are placed deeper than the bulbs of other crocuses (preferably at a depth of 15 cm).
Pale Yellow Crocus (Crocus ochroleucus)produces creamy, slender flowers with yellow throats that are only 2 cm long. The leaves usually appear with or shortly after the flowers. It is a fairly short species, reaching no more than 7 cm in height.
Autumn crocuses - Crocus ochroleucus
A bit taller than the pale yellow crocus ismedium saffron (Crocus medius)reaching 8-10 cm in height. This species with beautifully colored lilac-purple petals and bright orange or even red pistils usually blooms in October.
