Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: TheOnionMan on February 01, 2010, 11:06:12 PM
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Wow, it's hard to keep up with all of the great postings and wonderful croci shots. Ditto on the kudos to Hendrik, Tony, Luc, Michael, and Janis on such a lively thread with wonderful crocus to help me forget about all the snow and very cold weather (not been above freezing for a long time). And C. chrysanthus 'Black Fire' - OMG! Outstanding.
Because it is 2 more months before we have crocus here (I grow all crocus outside), I hope to post some photos of species discussed for comparison purposes, showing them growing and flowering outside in previous years. It is interesting comparing photos in successive years, to see how the colonies build up and increase. So, I uploaded 4 views of C. biflorus isauricus, the first 3 taken in 2008, the 4th taken in 2009. The sun was very bright, and with glare off of snow (not in view) made the photos a bit overexposed. Now I want to try C. biflorus nubigena, got to have those black anthers.
Then 3 photos of what was received as C. biflorus pulchricolor, but based on discussions here clearly seems to be something else (to be identified)... suggestion that it is C. kosaninii the first two taken in 2006, the last one taken in 2009 and showing considerable increase (sorry, the last on is a trifle out of focus). I love how this form stands up tall to display the elegant flowers. This is one that sets good seed, and I sow the seed in-situ around the parent clump to increase the colony.
-- renamed images of my NOT-biflorus-pulchricolor, to avoid further confusion --
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Mark,
very beautiful. Would be happy to call such nice clumps my own! ;D
It is quite unusual to see a thick mulch cover for crocus. Obviously they like it.
I made not the best experience with mulch cover due too much moist and danger of root rot.
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No rain/wind in New Hampshire? It's brilliant to see Crocus growing like that
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Very nice Crocus from everybody :o
Mark McD. your biflorus doesn't look like C. biflorus pulchricolor to me! may it be C. etruscus Rosalind!
I got my C. "biflorus pulchricolor" from Jane McGary, along with a number of other crocus species, and perhaps as you say, it is not correctly identified. I don't think that it is C. etruscus 'Rosalind' though, that looks rather different (unless I have that wrong too :o), but I'll post some photos of my etruscus 'Rosalind' later on tonight. Here's a couple links on what I could find for C. biflorus pulchricolor. If anyone can determine what crocus I do have in this case, I'm "all ears", and willing to repost images correctly named, assuming we come up with an ID.
http://www.thealpinehouse.fsnet.co.uk/crocus%20pages/biflorus%20pulchricolor.htm
http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/Plants_album/The%20Plants%20-%20%20Complete%20Collection/Iridaceae/Crocus/Subgen%20Nudiscapus%20Ser%20Biflori/C.%20biflorus/index8.html
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Mark,
very beautiful. Would be happy to call such nice clumps my own! ;D
It is quite unusual to see a thick mulch cover for crocus. Obviously they like it.
I made not the best experience with mulch cover due too much moist and danger of root rot.
I plant my crocus quite deep, 5-6" deep in the soil, with about 2" pine bark mulch. The deep planting solves the squirrel predation problem, and the crocus seem not to have any problem with deep planting. I plant crocus, frits, dwarf Iris, species tulipa, etc, in what I call shrub and tree rings. Here's the theory behind this practice. Choose late-to-leaf-out shrubs and trees (Hibiscus syriacus vars, Oxydendron arboreum), that are also tap-rooted or deep rooted. The bulbs flower in spring, well before the shrub or tree leafs out. Later in the summer when the shrubs and trees are in active growth, they're thirsty for moisture and suck moisture away from the soil at their base. I've never had things like crocus and Fritillaria pudica do so well and seed to prolifically, as in this dual-purpose plantings. Here's a photo of one such shrub ring, taken 5 years ago, with some younger clumps of crocus and iris coming along, planted under Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphodite'.
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No rain/wind in New Hampshire? It's brilliant to see Crocus growing like that
Thanks Mark S, plenty of wind and rain here in Massachusetts (about 2 miles from New Hampshire). Some years, the display on this or that species or cultivar can be rather ruined by excessive rainy periods, or late snow, but one gets enough good years that I enjoy seeing how the bulbs bulk up out in the open garden. Also, my more recent practice of sowing Crocus seed in situ to additionaly bulk up the colonies surpasses my expectations.
I'm quite pleased with how the genus Crocus is fairing here, and want to expand my collection. The key is to find a cultivation method that deals with the squirrel predation problem, and I refuse to use hardware cloth burried over the bulbs... too much work. See my other post, but very deep planting works just fine.
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McMark - Have you had any hardiness problems with any Crocus spp.? I hesitate to try some of the Mediterranean ones in this summer-cool area as they may not ripen properly. However your experience with winter hardiness may at least solve that part of the equation.
A cold -7c here at the moment, tomorrow night promises to be a corker - circa -16c they say and no let up to this cold until Sunday.
johnw
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McMark - Have you had any hardiness problems with any Crocus spp.? I hesitate to try some of the Mediterranean ones in this summer-cool area as they may not ripen properly. However your experience with winter hardiness may at least solve that part of the equation.
A cold -7c here at the moment, tomorrow night promises to be a corker - circa -16c they say and no let up to this cold until Sunday.
johnw
Hi John. -16c eh, that's cold. For the last several days it's been down to -16c here as well. So far, with the species I have tried, they've proved perfectly hardy. I worried about C. vitellinus, but it seems bone hardy after 6-7 years and always the first to flower, along with Galanthus. I just checked today, and my two year old seedlings of C. thomasii from Italy, from Angelo Porcelli, are green and looking fine in a southery facing spot where the 30cm of snow has dwindled to reveal bare ground in a few spots. There might be some Crocus that are not hardy here, but haven't found them yet. I have many more to try. http://www.bulbsociety.org/GALLERY_OF_THE_WORLDS_BULBS/GRAPHICS/Crocus/Crocus_thomasii/Crocus_thomasii.html
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Following up on the possible misidentification of C. biflorus pulchricolor, and the suggestion my plants look like C. etruscus 'Rosalind', here's what I grow as C. etruscus 'Rosalind'. The first 3 photos taken late March 2008, the 4th photo 2 days later (haha), followed by 2 photos of early anthesis 2009. It is a beautiful crocus; I hope the ID is right. This one also came from Jane McGary.
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Because it is 2 more months before we have crocus here (I grow all crocus outside)......
Welcome to the club, Mark - there are not many of us, trying their gems outside, but like you I have
never had bad experiences with growing my crocus outside. Our experiences will hopefully bring more
croconuts away from potgrowing 8)
Like Ibrahim I don't think your blue crocus is pulchricolor, it looks like the plant I received as Crocus kosaninii.
Please compare with my photo.
By the way: Great photos from everyone which brighten up my days - still everything covered with snow.
Can't remember when we had soooo much snow in the past :o
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Hello "Outsiders growers" ;D do you grow your Crocus in pots or directly in mother earth ??
and what's about mice ??
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Hello "Outsiders growers" ;D do you grow your Crocus in pots or directly in mother earth ??
and what's about mouses ??
Morning Fred.
The main stock of my corms is grown in plant-baskets with 14 or 20cm in diameter.
This makes it easier to find them while dormant. If the basket is full, the corms are planted
directly in the garden soil. No problems with mice in the last 3 years.
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Thank's Thomas,
have a nice snowy day ;D
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I think that outside planting is best for crocus but perhaps not all species and not everywhere. Cold in winter is less of a worry (apart from in areas where the frost penetrates very deep) than warm and wet in summer. Deep planting is very useful in mitigating temperature fluctuations, protecting the corms from extremes. They often grow deep in the wild.
Here in the maritime UK, warm and wet is the norm in summer ( :P) and can lead to rot in the corms. This can be offset by using extremely well drained growing medium and the use of raised beds.
Mouses ;) are a problem for pot growers too. If they are on your land they can find the crocus. There are a number of control methods - but none are entirely reliable.
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If you want to keep corms/ bulbs 'drier' in summer in the open garden you can also grow them through plants that can be pruned back before winter to let the light through, and which will grow over the dormant corms during summer. Good examples are Thymus, Scutellaria, Salvia, Micromeria, Ziziphora, Satureja.... None of these plants need watering evern in drought and 'soak'up any excess water during summer. It's also a good mimic of how the plants grow in the wild ;)
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It's not only small plants that can keep the corms dry during summer. Like Mark I also plant my crocus near shrubs
or trees, like seen below. First photo shows my 2nd rockgarden where a butterfly bush and a Corylus avellana suck
all the summer's rain away. In the second photo a very thirsty Robinia pseudoacacia 'Friesia' dries out the soil in summer.
But of course Simon's cushion plants make the garden look much better than only dry soil - hope my cushions will
do so in this years photos.
Tony, I agree, that summer wetness can lead to rot the corms, but when you have a good drainage plus a thirsty shrub
you can grow them well in the open garden - I'm sure if you only use pots you will also have rot, won't you ;)
Our winters are generally like yours, warm and cold and warm.....and so on. Only this year and especially last year
we had very hard frost of -24°C for many weeks and I have to admit, that some tender ones like laevigatus have
suffered hardly from the cold. Also some other species had losses, but never completely. The remainings and the
seedlings will soon bulk up my stock with plants that are well adapted to my climate.
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Thanks everyone for the reports on Crocus spp. outdoors. I would seem planting near a vigorous shrub might give the dryness required by some species. Beautiful clumps there Mark and a wonderful planting Thomas.
johnw - -12c and overcast.
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Some more photos from my garden. Between these shrubs I planted my first crocus in 2001 and they all do well.
5 meters away we have the local park with an acer alley (~50 years old), which also reduces moisture in summer.
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Very interesting topic gents !
Your borders look great like this - I don't think you showed us this before in this manner.
Great display !
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Thomas,
mm.. I see why you have put that ring on the neck of leader!.
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Welcome to the club, Mark - there are not many of us, trying their gems outside, but like you I have
never had bad experiences with growing my crocus outside. Our experiences will hopefully bring more
croconuts away from potgrowing 8)
Like Ibrahim I don't think your blue crocus is pulchricolor, it looks like the plant I received as Crocus kosaninii.
Please compare with my photo.
Thanks Thomas, my crocus do indeed look like your C. kosaninii... thanks for the suggestion. I love the dark reddish-purple color on the exterior of the floral tubes, contrasting nicely with the goblet shaped flowers. Your C. kosaninii looks to be a bit darker than mine.
Your mixed shrub-bulb planting are very attractive and harmonious, based on your photos I think I need to diversify more and add in some Eranthus and more snowdrops. Another advantage to the combined shrub-bulb plantings, after the bulbs are all dormant, one still has a good looking shrub planting all summer, no worry about bare ground. Lets hear it for Outdoor Croconuts!!! :D ;D
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Hello "Outsiders growers" ;D do you grow your Crocus in pots or directly in mother earth ??
and what's about mice ??
I dont use baskets or wire screening of any type, just plant directly in the ground. I should mention, that since my soil is so bad, dense rocky subsoil, I do hand excavate with a trowel a planting hole about 12" (30 cm) across x 8-10" (20-25 cm) deep, then throw in a 3-4" (7.5-10 cm) layer of sand mixed with soil, plant the crocus on that mix, and cover with the same sandy mix, then fill in the hole with original soil amended with sand and decomposed pine back mulch.
Mice only tunnel along the surface of the frozen ground in winter, leaving a network of damage in the lawn and garden in spring, much more of a threat to perennating plants than to bulbs much deeper beneath the soil surface. Mice are not a problem the rest of the year. Deeper tunneling by moles, voles, shrews can be a serious problem, all are in the area, they're known to use each others tunnels, and some moles and shrews which are basically insectivores, are also reported as eating roots and vegetation. I sometimes lose a few hosta, where there is nothing left to the root, finding tunnels right below.
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We also have problems with mice and voles. By planting the bulbs in soil to which a lot of stone and rubble as been added, we have so far managed to exclude these pests from the areas of the garden where we now grow bulbs. As this rubble is also needed to help with drainage for the rest of the plants it hasn't really been a problem. Bulbs in the woodland garden where the voles are still a problem are planted deeper than the voles burrow and although there are still losses there it is not as much of a problem now. Where we did have losses- for example my C.banaticus had bulked up from 1 to 3 bulb- this was because the voles had a run underneath which left the bulbs floating in the air and they desiccated before I realised there was a problem. Luckily the 'mother' bulb survived this and was moved to its current location, which is a stony but humic soil.
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Sieht ja großartig aus Thomas, echt super.
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Great thread, lots of useful feedback. Thomas is right - the 'pets in pots' regime can be fraught with problems. The very variable and changeable UK climate, warm wet, cold wet, hot dry, hot wet ... all in the same month sometimes, will always make it a bit more of a challenge to grow a wide range of species outside here. However I will be planting a lot more out this summer. I'll report on how they get on next year!
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I grew all of my Crocus in the garden in Lincolnshire, because I never imagined them as being potplants. The planting positions and soils were chosen depending on the species in question.
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Simon. I would be interested to know which species you grew in Lincs. Successes and failures if any. What did you learn about soil and site? It's just up the coast from here so there will be strong similarities.
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Mark, I think the darker colour in my photo is just a trick of light. In fact the flowers are somewhat brighter. (see posts in Crocus February 2010 pages re pix by Mark McDonough)
Heinz, a warm welcome to another German plant maniac.
Tony, I think it will be the best way to make your own experiences. Plant some corms out, adapt the soil to
their need, or at least what you think they will need and see what happens. You should still have some
"backups" in pots if the wild ones fail.
Luc, I've never managed to show my mixed bed so far - didn't realize that there is need 8)
The ones who are interested, please feel free to have a look at the following photos of my
wild bed during last years spring, when I didn't have time for posting photos here: (see posts in Crocus February 2010 pages leading up to these posts!)
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The ones who are interested, please feel free to have a look at the following photos of my
wild bed during last years spring, when I didn't have time for posting photos here:
Thomas, you are totally POSSESSED! And I mean that in a good way ;D ;D ;D Just look at that lawn, or it it a garden, no, it's a lawn.... I'm confused :o I just love how your garden borders just spill over to bulbs in the lawn, brilliant! Your front yard is unbelievable... flowers poking out from ever nook and cranny, passersby must certainly make nice comments... do you charge admission? :D
Thanks for sharing these, it makes my "tree rings" look drab by comparison, but you've given me some grand ideas!
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Thomas, you are totally POSSESSED!
Yes, I know - but I love to be ;D ;D 8)
Here some more from late spring:
Last photo shows my lawn before the mower came.
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Thomas, you are totally POSSESSED!
Yes, I know - but I love to be ;D ;D 8)
Here some more from late spring:
It just gets better and better, doesn't it :o I like the informal intermixing of plants, allowing then to "duke it out" and mingle together. What rich purple Corydalis am I seeing? I don't see many alliums, but perhaps it is early in the season in those photos. How long to you hold back mowing the lawn, to allow some of the bulb foliage to die back?
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Mark, mowing is not before the end of May. The Corydalis is popovii if you mean photo no. 17
You are right, there are not many Alliums, but meanwhile I found a thread of a totally possesed American allium guy,
who's photos forced me to get more alliums in future ;)
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You are right, there are not many Alliums, but meanwhile I found a thread of a totally possesed American guy,
who's photos forced me to get more alliums in future ;)
Who might that be? ;D
In your spring bulb milieu, some of the familiar ones would look nice, yellow A. moly, white A. zebdanense, red-rose A. oreophilum.
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I think somewhere in the chaos might be some A. moly, christophii,
careuleum plus one from Minorca and this one from the woods around Lago di Garda.
Perhaps you can give an ID?
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I think somewhere in the chaos might be some A. moly, christophii,
careuleum plus one from Minorca and this one from the woods around Lago di Garda.
Perhaps you can give an ID?
Looks like Allium carinatum ssp. pulchellum (possibly forma lintoflorum :o)
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Tony, I as growing the following outside in Lincolnshire: Crocus biflorus in various ssp, sieberi in various ssp and aff sieberi, chrysanthus, cvijicii, etruscus, dalmaticus, flavus, gargaricus, kotschyanus, laevigatus, nudiflorus, olivieri, pulchellus, reticulatus, speciosus, x jessopiae and of course the various ssp of vernus. Some of these were in beds with other bulbs/ corms such as Allium, Bellevalia, Fritillaria, Hyacinthus orientalis (wild from), Anemone pavonina and coronaria, Ornithogalum reverchonii, Muscari muscarimi, Hyacinthella, Bongardia, Gymnospermium... I wasn't growing to show so they weren't in pots. We had a bulb frame for Onco Iris and Leonticoides section Corydalis and any new, or one off, bulbs yet to be bulked up.
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Thomas, BRILLIANT, how great to see Crocus, Galanthus, Iris and others all running wild together with their 'toes' in the wet grass!!
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It's a very happy looking Corydalis popovii, Thomas 8)
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Thanks for the ID, Mark.
Really happy my popovii is, Simon. The corm is as large as my fist.
But unfortunately it never sets seed.
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Brilliant Thomas! what are the smll white flowers in reply 2 photo 8? We have the same bulbs in our beds. My first Tulip is out T. polychroma I think.
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No, I believe they are self sterile- we have had seed on ours but chris thinks it may have been with C.maracandica as the pollen parent- we have yet to see the seedlings flower ;)
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this thread was created from 'Crocus February 2010' thread-- now renamed 'Crocus in pots February 2010' -- to highlight growing Crocus out of doors.
Some posts are repeated in th Crocus to Identify thread...... confused? You should be! :-X :P
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Unwarscheinlich Thomas ! ;D :o
What a colourful display ! March - April and May must be fabulous !!
Is there anything left in the borders to bring some colour in the Summer ??
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Thanks to Maggi for moving these posts to an extra thread.
Mark S, I think you mean Puschkinia libanotica Alba. These are seedlings which I have sown in 2005.
Mc Mark, do you have the Garda-Allium in your marvellous collection?
Luc, from June to September the number of plants is reduced dramaticly, but there are still some
left for my happiness. Mainly Campanula, Sempervivum and some cushion plants.
If you're interested I could post some summer photos or spring photos from the other rock gardens.
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If you're interested I could post some summer photos or spring photos from the other rock gardens.
I think that would be most interesting, Thomas, to show how the look of the areas change with the seasons 8)
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Mc Mark, do you have the Garda-Allium in your marvellous collection?
Regarding Allium carinatum ssp. pulchellum, yes, I have the typical rosy-purple form, the white form, and I uploaded a nice pale lilac one, great for color in July and August. By the way, did you notice what looks like lint hanging from your Garda allium (thus my attempt at a joke) :D
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Mark,
thank you for explaining your way of planting crocus. You give them a good drainage that is fundamental then no problem with moist and mulch layer. I have a heavy loamy soil in my garden which keeps lot of moist.
Thomas,
I'm pleased to see pictures from your garden again. Good idea to bridge the snowy time.
Our time of "outside" croconut growers is still to come! ;D
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Here's some "eye candy" of the horticultural type. At Home Depot, a large US chain of "big box" building supply stores, I bought a jumbo bag of Crocus tommasinianus in fall 2003, I believe it was $6 US dollars for 100-count bag! :o
I planted them out fairly thickly. First photograph is in spring 2004, second photo is spring 2005, photos 3-5 are taken in 2007. Note the apparent color difference photographed in sun versus on a cloudy day. I'd say I got my money's worth. The grouping flowered just as well in 2008 and 2009, but I didn't photograph them again.
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By the way, did you notice what looks like lint hanging from your Garda allium (thus my attempt at a joke) :D
No, Mark, I havn't noticed this lint before and even after you put my attention on it I can't tell you what it is.
So let the joke out... 8)
Your tommies look great - you might be interested, that most of the crocus on my lawn were also such bargains
from the local garden-centers. They look like tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple' - do they set seed, mine do.
Here two more photos from my chaos bed. One from June, when the shrubs flowered nicely. The second was made for
another reason, not due to showing the leaves, but it shows how well they cover my plot from nosy views.
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This is my second rockgarden. Before I started it was an ugly slope with lots of mixed plantings in loamy-sandy soil.
After I've mixed up lots of sand and placed the rocks to form the terraces in 2007, the planting baskets with the
Crocus and Galanthus were plunged.
I also planted some Campanulas from the neighbours garden and Sempervivums, but last autumn I added many
cushion plants. Will post more photos this summer to show how it thrives.
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Great stuff Thomas ! Really nice ! 8)
We definitely missed these postings last spring !!
I'm intrigued by the rows of pots you have in what seems to be a small trench at the base of the raised bed ?? ::)
Never seen that before - is this where the "rarer" bulbs are and maybe get a cover of some kind in summer ?? Or is there another reason ??
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Last one for today is my first rock garden, built in 2005, started with the same situation like the second.
For a better look I have added river pebbles as top dressing. Some small plants have already increased well.
And as an extra for Mark my favourite Allium.
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Thanks Luc. These rows of pots are my 'Kindergarden' - small corms or species from which
I only have 1 or two corms, nothing more (photo). The rarer bulbs don't have a special place,
they are everywhere.
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;) Thomas
A repeat posting of C.pestalozzae caeruleus from March last year. To show how plants bounce back from snow cover. The group started to flower just before our last snow fall of that winter. The first picture shows the flattened flowers a short time after the snow had melted. The next pics were taken over the course of the afternoon. I brought 2 bulbs with me to Bulgaria in September 2006 and they were planted in their current position in the winter of 2007 when voles invaded our temporary bulb beds - the last picture I think shows they have been happy enough.
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Thomas,
Nice combinations of plants and stones - and not too much Crocus species! ;)
Love your plantings!
Gerd
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My real passion for crocus and other bulbous plants started in autuum 2005 planting 1st corms in my soccer lawn (now it is slowly converting to a meadow). After I had visited Thomas rock garden I changed to use baskets to separate the species in the raised beds,too. In my meadow I generaly don't use baskets.
Picture one shows spring 2009.
Next picture shows part of raised bed in 2009. Most of them I moved to the meadow to narrow the gaps.
Last picture shows a shining example. One day in the future I hope to get as many flowers ;D).
It is made in "Botanischer Garten Wuppertal". Sofar as I know those crocus plantings were initiated by Erich Pasche.
Special thanks to Gerd who introduced me this beautiful place.
Simon, a wonderful nice clump of C. pestalozzae ;)
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Gerd, I like to think of the non-bulbous plants as Crocus support systems- although someone siting very near me would say they are life support systems for terrestrial orchids!
Armin, the C.pestalozzae are coming up again just now- even more noses this year. The Wuppertal meadows are something else!
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Simon - nice looking C. pestallozzae, I've taken note that I must some day try that species.
Armin - you too have lawn given over to bulbs! Looks great!! I have too much boring lawn, and I'm inspired by your photos and Thomas's bulb lawns, to start doing something about it here.
Thomas - I always enjoy looking at photos such as yours, overall shots and planting vignettes, to see what sorts of plant people are growing. It's also interesting to see the transformation of garden beds through the seasons, and yes your shrub plantings make an attractive hedge-row don't they, and afford some privacy! I spy an Eremurus stenophyllus in one view; I used to have a large clump, but lost it to a record-breaking wet spring 5 years ago. I'm also envious of your lush clumps of Ipheion uniflorum (is it Wisley Blue?), they are only marginally hardy here, and die a slow death over 2 or 3 winters.
Thansk for throwing in an Allium photo for my benefit, A. cristophii is certainly one of the most ornamental ones. But I have to ask you Thomas, and Armin too, what are the "ornamental balls" displayed in the garden. With that Allium photo, there's a bit of a trompe d'oeil with the ornamental ball in the distance looking like it is balancing on top of the Allium head.
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Armin, your lawn is on the way to make a good companion to mine, really great.
But please don't forget to built some steps for a walk around.
Your seedlings will soon cover the whole area and you will not know where to walk with your feet.
Simon, your clump of the blue pestalozzae obviously feels good in your garden.
Mine have also increased, but not in that quantity. Please don't battle with Chris - grow crocus and
Orchids together in a mixed bed. Will be interesting to see the result!!
Mark, my Eremurus was replanted from the rockgarden in 2007 because I thought it is too large for
the area. In the new area it didn't flower since that time, so I replanted it again in my latest rockgarden,
built 2008/9.
The Ipheions are growing like a week in my rockgarden. In 2008 I devided another large clump (photo)
and gave hundreds of bulbs to my mother. Perhaps you should try to add some pumice to your soil.
Mine didn't flower well in the first years, but have increased dramaticly since I grow them in a pumice-sand-soil mix.
The 'balls' were placed mainly by my wife, but the one behind Allium christiphii was made by my kids.
We have plastic balls, some glass balls and also clay balls. Don't you know them in the US? I have also seen
them on the gardenshow years ago (photo 2)
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Nice combinations of plants and stones - and not too much Crocus species! ;)
And especially for Gerd, who obviously misses crocus photos, some overview photos from
my 2005 rockgarden in autumn. I think I already posted them in the past but they fit
very good with the thread-theme of growing crocus outside, so I will hopefully be forgiven:
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I have taken the time and effort to pick up photos of my crocus lawn since I started it.
Watch how I started in 2001 and how it developed over the years:
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What a wonderful record of a successful Crocus lawn. Very inspiring :)
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Armin, A nice and colourful planting!
Thomas, Thanks for the additional crocuses (croci?) - no violets around? ;)
Gerd
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Thomas, very nice as usual. What did you do dig up the big dutch types in the grass? Or is your 2009 picture just too early?
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Simon, I'm already exited to see your spring flower show on the forum ;) :D and I agree Botanischer Garten of Wuppertal is something special 8)
Mark, Arthur, I'm glad to read you got inspired by our "outdoor" crocus lawn pictures. If you allow nature to grow and with the help of spreading seeds it is amazing how many "weeds" and flowers return and convert the lawn to a meadow. It is a continious changing process and of many surprises.
Thomas, thanks for your tips. I've moved lot of clumps last spring after flower finished to make a beattrack surrounding my meadow. But I'm still far away from such dense crocis as in your lawn. I hope my hotel for solitary bees will be again a full success for rich pollination and plenty of seed posies later. Did you start to built a bee hotel with you son?
Gerd, the project is progressing ;D
In the context I'm missing the marvelous meadow pictures from Franz. Would you kindly post some pictures here again?
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We have a low pressure system overhead just now and last night was -11C. The air temperature today is
-4C with a clear blue sky. The sun we had yesterday and that from today has been melting snow where it is thinnest on the south side of the house. This patch of Crocus danfordiae was exposed yesterday afternoon and this morning was able to open a flower.
The first picture shows that the first flower is missing its stigma.
In the second picture you can see the stippled outer petals of the unopened buds.
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Also open in the garden now the snow has melted in this area is the very last flower on my Crocus laevigatus. This patch started flowering in November, had more flowers in December, it flowered again in our warm spell in January and kept this last bud for this thaw. You can't complain with 4 months interest from one planting.
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A very brave Crocus Simon !! 8)
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Gerd, only a few violets grow in my garden. I would not complain if I got more ;)
Guff, the photo was made to early, the big Dutchies are still in the soil, but this year I will try to reduce them by digging up.
Armin, so far no bee hotels, but as soon as the snow melts I will start to create some.
Good year for Crocus laevigatus, Simon - is this 'Fontenayi' ?
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the big Dutchies are still in the soil, but this year I will try to reduce them by digging up.
Oh! that would be a shame..... live and let live, I say!! ;)
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Don't worry, Maggi - I will not kill them, just replant in another corner of the garden or a friends garden.
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What specifically are "bee hotels"?
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McMark.... it's just what it sounds like! See these links for more.... great concept.....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3104.msg95002#msg95002
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3104.msg95126#msg95126
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3720.msg109804#msg109804
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We just have a neighbour with beehives- if the sun is out the bees are at the flowers queuing up ;)
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Thomas - great seeing the time progression on your crocus lawn, fun to see the increase from year to year.
Simon - I really like C. danfordiae, another one I don't grow. Hard to believe that yours are in bloom now, outside, in Bulgaria! Here there is still so much snow, and it hasn't been above freezing for many weeks. I also like the short stubby foliage on that Crocus species, or at least short as the flowers emerge.
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One of my favorite Crocus is is C. malyi, because it is early, has pristine white flowers, and as crocus go ithe flowers are more weather-proof than many, and they increase well. I have uploaded some photos:
1-4 C. malyi 'Sveti Roc' - dwarf, with perky rounded flowers.
5-6 C. malyi (no cultivar), but it looks closer to 'Ballerina' with the more upright flowers and longer pointed petals.
7-10 C. malyi 'Ballerina' - larger upright flowers, long pointed petals. Photo 9 shows C. angustifolius and C. kosaninii in the background.
Photo 10 is with the flowers closed, rather elegant I think. Notice the many seedlings in the grouping.
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Simon - I really like C. danfordiae, another one I don't grow. Hard to believe that yours are in bloom now, outside, in Bulgaria! Here there is still so much snow, and it hasn't been above freezing for many weeks. I also like the short stubby foliage on that Crocus species, or at least short as the flowers emerge.
We haven't been above freezing for weeks either and the rest of the garden is still under snow- we have more on the way tomorrow. This bed is near the south wall of the house and the first thing this morning was frozen solid. There is a patch of C.korolkowii about 30cm further from the house wall, which have just made it through the snow- but elsewhere the snow is too deep.
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Earlier in this thread, I show a picture of one of my "shrub rings", the double-duty or dual-planting technique of growing small choice bulbs (many crocus species) at the base of late-to-leaf-out tap-tooted shrubs and trees. Expanding on this a bit, here a a few shots of these shrub and tree rings, surrounded by lawn, each ring can hold a couple dozen choice bulbous plants. When the bulbs are dormant and leave bare ground the shrubs & trees take over the show.
There can he hazards however, such as the great ice storm of Dec 12, 2008. The Hibiscus syriacus Bluebird looks sad, but recovered fine, although needed to be "uprighted" in the spring from a definite tilt after the storm. There is also Hibiscus syriacus 'Aprodite' where the root ball started to lift from the weight of the ice. Eventually the root ball popped up totally out of the grownd, could not upright the shrub (with great difficulty) until the ground thawed three months hence. Many of my crocus and Iris histrioides cultivars were damaged or lost from that episode, the Hibiscus didn't seem to mind the ordeal.
Last photo is Crocus sativus foliage encased in ice.
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Now a few companion plants for crocus in the open garden. The early reticulata Iris are beautiful and flower at the same time, although one has to deal with that ridiculous elongating foliage afterwards, 60 cm tall or more. Very popular now, available at big box home improvement stores here in the USA, are bargain bags of Iris 'Kathryn Hodgkin', just $5-$6 for something like a 40-count bag!
Dwarf Tulipa species are good companions too, although mostly flowering after crocus. My favorite among them are T. bifloriformis, flowering just after Crocus malyi, and T. polychroma, with richly perfumed flowers. Also shown is Gagea fibrosa (got it from Jane McGary), the genus indeed showing its affinity with Tulipa, the bright yellow "stars" lasting a long time.
Edited by McMark for more accurate naming on Iris species and cultivars -and by maggi to allow those names to be picked up by the search facility! :)
Iris_histrio_and histrioides_cultivars_04-03-2006rs2.jpg
Iris_histrioides_cultivars_and_histrio_04-03-2006rs.jpg
Iris_Sheila_Ann_Germaney_and_Crocus_sieberi_tricolor_04-14-2005rs.jpg
Iris_Kathryn_Hodgkin_04-05-2008rs.jpg
Iris_Kathryn_Hodgkin_04-19-2009rs1.jpg
Tulipa_bifloriformis_04-05-2009rs1.jpg
Tulipa_bifloriformis_Frit_pudica_04-19-2009rs2.jpg
Tulipa_pulchella_violacea_1.jpg
Tulipa_polychroma_04-19-2009rs.jpg
Gagea_fibrosa_2008a.jpg
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EEEEK! McMark.... virus in those Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin'....... :o see the dark blue streaks .......that can go through your other reticulatas in a flash and wipe them out! :'(
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Mark Iris_histrioides_cultivars_04-03-2006rs.jpg is a lovely plant. Why are you onion man when you have a brilliant collection of bulbs?
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Mark Mc, the plant in the first picture is Iris histrio.
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Mark Mc, the plant in the first picture is Iris histrio.
Thanks Dirk, you are right. I hastily gathered up some photos of companion plants to crocus, and wasn't sure which Iris was which, because most my digital photos are left named as numbers only, I always intend on going back and renaming photos later, but often don't. This particular tree ring has Iris 'Kathryn Hodgkin', 'Frank Elder', 'Sheila Ann Germaney' I. histrio, and I. 'Sindpers'. Since I can't go outside and check the labels (they're under snow/ice), I need to look more closely at the placement of the plants relative to each other.
Just to the right of the very blue I. histrio, I see a white label with "Sin" visible... it is I. 'Sindpers', and I remember these two were planted side-by-side. You can see 'Sindpers' just emerging on the right. In fact, here's a photo of 'Sindpers' which flowers after I. histrio.
Thanks for the clarification. You're all a sharp bunch out there! :D
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Mark Iris_histrioides_cultivars_04-03-2006rs.jpg is a lovely plant.
My mistake... Dirk caught my slip up, the Iris in that photo is I. histrio, the photo relabled accordingly.
Why are you onion man when you have a brilliant collection of bulbs?
Because, I have layers ;D
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Mark, another great series of your tree rings, many thanks.
I also love Crocus malyi, even if it's just another white Crocus.
It's so easy to grow, sets seed reliable and like you mention it
stands strong in all weather conditions. I'm sure we will see more of this
species in future. But I've noticed, that in your 2007 photos the yellow
throat isn't apperently like in the 2009 photos. Is it only on the screen or real?
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But I've noticed, that in your 2007 photos the yellow
throat isn't apperently like in the 2009 photos. Is it only on the screen or real?
Which of the two forms are you referencing; 'Sveti Roc' or 'Ballerina', for both of those I show photos dated in 2007 and 2009. I think you refer to 'Sveti Roc' where the camera is looking directly down at the flowers. In the 2007 view, it is later anthesis, one flower is already gone over and the petal texture getting thin on a couple flowers, so what I imagine is the yellow center fades as the flowers age. In the 2009 photos it is fresh early anthesis.
Regarding photos, obviously I manipulate my avatar images ;D;D but all plant photos are what they are, untouched except for typically applying a "sharpen" filter on them after resizing the images down. On images taken in poor light, either too bright or two dark, I might also apply a "brightness" adjustment to compensate. I use my daughters inexpensive (cheapo) entry-level Nikon Coolpix, really must get myself a better camera to get shots like Mark S or Cliff B :)
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I meant all the 2007 photos, Mark. But it may be that it's due to the late season.
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... all plant photos are what they are, untouched except for typically applying a "sharpen" filter on them after resizing the images down. On images taken in poor light, either too bright or two dark, I might also apply a "brightness" adjustment to compensate. I use my daughters inexpensive (cheapo) entry-level Nikon Coolpix, really must get myself a better camera to get shots like Mark S or Cliff B :)
The pics are fine McMark. I use one of the early Coolpix and am still pretty happy with the results. I also make the same minimal adjustments and folk seem to like them. Have looked at alternatives .... there are tooooo many to choose from ??? :-\
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The crocus bed is waking up.
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Michael,
nice clump of the Dutch Golden Yellow!
Have you ever observed male blackbirds attacking the yellow flowers buds?
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My first Crocus in the garden and now it has snowed :-\
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Ian, ditto in my crocus meadow. >:(
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Armin,my blackbirds are too well fed to attack the crocus. I put out apples and pears for them and I think that they are too busy fighting over them to notice the crocus.
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My first Crocus in the garden and now it has snowed :-\
There'll be back soon, Ian. My sieberi's are all under snow now too- though they did get to see the sun twice in brief thaws one at the start of January and another earlier in February ;)
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After two days of sunshine and mild, but strong, southerly winds, much of the snow in the garden has melted and we have Crocus flowering once more. Identifications are correct to the best of my knowledge, but corrections are always welcome.
Where Crocus groupings have specific companion plants these are noted.
Crocus biflorus adamii 'Serevan' with Micromeria and Consolida
Crocus biflorus isauricus with Nepeta tuberosa
Crocus biflorus isauricus 'Akseki' with Penstemon palmeri
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The sunshine has brought out more flowers on the Crocus danfordiae, which is planted in a 'recycled' lime render and broken house brick path.
Crocus korolkowii 'Dark Throat' is also planted under Penstemon palmeri
Crocus sieberi 'Michael Hoog's Memory' is planted under Caragana jubata
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Simon, glorious shots all of them!!! These views show exactly why crocus can look so fantastic in the garden. Love the side views.
Bravo :o
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Lovely plantings Simon.
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Thanks, Mark and David. I just love this time of year ;D
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Simon,
very excellent shots. Your C. biflorus isauricus 'Akseki' is exceptional beautiful outside striped :o 8)
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I agree, Armin. I am hoping the naming is correct. I have had the plant maybe 5 years, but was never at home when it flowered for me in Britain.
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Simon,
if it sets enough seed I would be interested ;)
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Today was 7C with sunny spells. A few more Crocus flowers have appeared overnight. We are expecting snow tomorrow ::)
Crocus biflorus aff isauricus (ex Cambridge bulbs) growing with Consolida and annual Silene
Crocus biflorus 'Parkinsonii' growing with Micromeria
Crocus korolkowii (Cambridge Bulbs) growing with Penstemon palmeri
Crocus sieberi 'Violet Queen' growing with a native Sedum
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What fabulous crocus appearing in your rock garden, Simon, I covet them all.... but the Crocus biflorus isauricus, C.'Parkinsonii' and C.korolkowii are superb - lucky you to have these gems at this time of year - no sign of colour or growth yet here!
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Gorgeous looking Crocus Simon !!! :D
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Today was 7C with sunny spells. A few more Crocus flowers have appeared overnight. We are expecting snow tomorrow ::)
Crocus biflorus aff isauricus (ex Cambridge bulbs) growing with Consolida and annual Silene
Crocus biflorus 'Parkinsonii' growing with Micromeria
Crocus korolkowii (Cambridge Bulbs) growing with Penstemon palmeri
Crocus sieberi 'Violet Queen' growing with a native Sedum
Simon, doing any pollen dabbing? Somehow I would feel the urge to attempt crossing Crocus biflorus 'Parkinsonii' with C. korolkowii, to see if I could get plants with an outrageous dusting of dots and striking stripes.
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Thanks Luc and Robin.
The honeybees have already been out, Mark. Our neighbour keeps hives and it only needs a sunny day to get them going. Apart from that- yes I'm sharing pollen between the different plants where appropriate. ;)
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Simon,
excellent croci. I have a request. Can you kindly take a picture of "Violet Queen" from top view when it is fully open.
I want to compare the form of the pedals with "Firefly".
The C. korolkowii is also very attractive form.
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Of course, Armin. The sun should be back later in the week.
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Some afternoon sunshine melted the last of our snow and brought out the Crocus.
For Armin- the plant we are growing as C.sieberi Violet Queen
C.tommasinianus roseus
C. White Beauty (with interloper)
C.alatavicus
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Simon,
thanks for the top view of cv. "Violet Queen".
The overall color is a bit darker compared to "Firefly", has nicely rounded pedals and has no inconspicuous greyish veins. I believe it is the true cultivar! :D
The other croci are lovely, too. Like them all. ;D
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Some afternoon sunshine melted the last of our snow and brought out the Crocus.
For Armin- the plant we are growing as C.sieberi Violet Queen
C.tommasinianus roseus
C. White Beauty (with interloper)
C.alatavicus
Simon, the first view of the pink Tommi is wonderful, I really enjoy seeing the quality of light on blooms when photographed in natural sunlight in the open garden. Had 7" of heavy wet snow overnight, still about 5 weeks away from the first Crocus blooms with luck (C. vitellinus is always first here).
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Thanks, Armin. I did have 'Firefly', but it has yet to reappear.
Mark, I agree the tommies work very well in those shots.
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Sunshine today but not warm enough to open the flowers on Crocus imperati, but one of my garden 'weeds', Tulipa sprengeri is germinating well.
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Sunshine today but not warm enough to open the flowers on Crocus imperati, but one of my garden 'weeds', Tulipa sprengeri is germinating well.
Looks great, even in bud as most croci do. Wish I had weeds like these. I always think of butterscotch ice cream sundaes when I see the exterior color of this crocus.
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Fabulous to se your crocus coming out Simon and I love the photo C.tommasinianus roseus in the sunlight. I know that once the melt begins things will start to appear rapidly here too but it still feels really wintery so I'll just have to keep thinking about it and enjoying your new arrivals ::)
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Roma, your 'weeds' are wonderful just such a great colour combination as good looking in bud as open - I look forward to seeing your Tulipa sprengeri under the trees that Maggi pointed me to last year - I hope you'll post another photo when they are out :)
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Great show Simon !
The first shot of the Tommies is wonderful !! :o
.. alatavicus is another smashing little plant !
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Sunshine today but not warm enough to open the flowers on Crocus imperati, but one of my garden 'weeds', Tulipa sprengeri is germinating well.
I'd offer to compost your weeds if you were not so far away ;D
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Luc, I can take no credit for C.alatavicus as it is new to me this year- but I have been helping it make friends with several C.korolkowii- I live in hope of seed set. ;)
Flowering here today:
Crocus gargaricus gargaricus in the woodland garden- it will sown be joined by various Corydalis of the solida and cava ilk.
Crocus olivieri growing from under a Helianthemum
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Simon nice crocus and I love the alatavicus
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Thanks, Ian. Our warmest day here since early January ::) and we have lots of new buds breaking through and some which have been waiting to open finally did so!
Crocus korolkowii Dark Throat
C.korolokowii CB form
C.korolkowii (lost label)
C.etruscus 'Zwanenberg' Zwanenburg, which will later be grown over by Hedysarum tauricum.
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Simon, C. etruscus "Zwanenburg" ;)
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Thanks, Armin
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Well, the Crocus season has jumped to the fore in my garden. A few days of sunshine and the Tommies are out in force, along with C. sieberi 'Violet Queen' and buds on C. ancyrianus. Although C. tommasinianus is sometimes considered a bit weedy, I can't see how one can object to these fine little beauties in the lawn. Just a handful of seed about 6 years ago and I have them popping up all over the place. Spring has sprung.
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I found this darker clone of C. tommasinianus in another corner of the garden. Much more distinct than the typical seedlings.
After a few more hours sun, the buds on C. sieberi 'Violet Queen' are well open. It really likes my lawn, having clumped up well over the last few years.
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Just one from today, but hopefully more tomorrow.
Crocus chrysanthus Blue Dream, which will shortly be over grown by a Micromeria.
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Jamie,
lovely tommies and sieberi. Nice to hear they are clumping up well in your lawn.
My crocus in the meadow show noses but not open yet. First species are ancyrensis, imperati, chrys. Snow Bunting, Dorothy, Fuscotinctus, sieberi Firefly, korolkowii). My tommies show leaves but no buds yet.
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That's quick after all the frost and snow Jamie ! :D
In my garden, no buds ready to open yet...
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Luc,
it seemed like it happened overnight, but we did have snow cover until 5 days ago and they may have been waiting under the white for their moment of glory. The last three days have been miserable rain with sunny breaks inbetween, which is when they suddenly open. maybe they are trained?
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One well worth seeing... what a dream, thanks Simon :)
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We have been lucky to have had 2 sunny days with temperatures in the mid-teens Celsius. Flowering now includes:-
Crocus sieberi George growing with Calylophus hartwegii
Crocus sieberi sieberi which has spent the last year with tomatoes as companion plants ;)
Crocus x stellaris growing through Teucrium hyrcanicum
Crocus imperati etruscus in a xeric bed (Thanks Thomas)
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Three days after the thaw the first crocus flowers.
Crocus olivieri ssp balansae
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A wonderful warm orange Franz - so quick, after the cold ! ;D
I'm sure there will be a lot more following soon !
Good show Simon !
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Wonderful photos from the open garden!
Simon, your imperati doesn't look like imperati - probably etruscus?
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Some Crocus buds in my garden which are ready to open:
1) Crocus antalyensis 'Sky Blue'
2) Crocus chrysanthus 'Uschak Orange'
3) Crocus vernus ssp.heuffelianus 'Carpathian Wonder'
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Some more from the garden. I think these ids are correct.
Crocus x leonidii 'Janis Ruksans' growing through Scutellaria tournefortii
Crocus angustifolius 'Oreanda'
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Crocus tommasinianus appearing all over the garden, but as yet no sunshine. Cold and wet today, again.
Mike
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A nice group Mike ! That 'll be spectacular in the sunshine ! ;)
Nice Crocus Wim - do you grow Carpathian Wonder out in the garden ? :-\
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Nice Crocus Wim - do you grow Carpathian Wonder out in the garden ? :-\
I bought two last year. I keep one in a pot and one outside. The picture is of the one outside. I'll see what happens... ;)
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I see a second nose coming... :D :D so that looks promising !
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Great plants everyone here is C gargaricus ssp herbertii (now to be changed to herbertii I hear)
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Two inches of snow on Tuesday but two good days since with a little warmth today and we have the first real signs of Spring.Sorry Maggie.
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Beautiful John - I'm very envious!
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Not quite in the open garden, but a great way to find ideas for companion plants. Here crocus flavus is found growing under dwarf lilacs on a limestone pavement. It's current companions are Galanthus gracilis, Gagea and Ornithogalum. In a few weeks they will be joined by Hyacinthella leucophaea. In spring this is a grassland community with Achillea, Scutellaria, Salvia etc. before drying out in summer. In autumn there are Cyclamen hederifolium everywhere.
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John, your spring arrival has left me flabbergasted! What a glorious scene! It has been raining here all day and could scarcely be nastier weather .... your beautiful swathes of flowers are a real tonic.
What a glorious garden you have! And in your glass house the Hepaticas are in flower..... you are a lucky man! 8)
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John,
your crocus garden is spectacular :o 8) 8) 8)
How long did it take until the tommies have spread so much?
Are the dark blue ones cv. "Ruby Giant"?
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John you have a fabulous crocus garden, meadow one could say, thanks for sharing your wonderful Spring scenes :)
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John lovely to see your garden. I think spring is going to pass us by here in Aberdeen. Spring is my favorite time so thanks for sharing your garden.
Angie :)
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massed Crocus and Eranthis look great. My tomms are bulking well but the Eranthis are dwindling fast except for Guinea Gold
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Thanks everybody for your kind comments.Hopefully it will get better if we get some really warm sunshine in which case I will post some more pictures.
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Armin,I planted the first crocus more than thirty years ago and nature has done the rest.I did include Ruby Giant originally but I thought that Ruby Giant was more ruby than blue.
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Flowering now in the Sakar hills of southeast Bulgaria- Crocus chrysanthus.
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A great find Simon - such a wonderful colour 8)
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Crocus sieberi "Ronald Ginns"
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I agree ! Very very good colour Sinchets ! and nice wild pic too.
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The warm sun jets opened the blooms of Crocus sieberi ssp. sublimis
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I agree, Robin and Fred- always good to meet one of the ancestors of the garden hybrids ;)
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Alex your Ronald Ginns is way ahead of mine. Does it do well in the garden?
Does anyone in the UK grow angustifolius or imperati suaveolens in the garden?
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Hi Mark,
Everything here seems a bit ahead, this must be a warm part of the country. This is the first year I've had RG - last year I acquired two new bulb beds so I thought it should be fine in one of these - all OK so far but we'll see!
Alex
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Also - grew angustifolius for a few years in a previous raised bed (uncovered) with no problems. Only lost it (as in misplaced!) when that bed had to be dismantled.
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Does anyone in the UK grow angustifolius or imperati suaveolens in the garden?
Mark, while this doesn't really answer your question directly, as I'm not in the UK, but both species do great out in the garden here. Here are a few photos of my suaveolens showing a progression of flowers opening, once again my corms from jane McGary originally.
McMark :)
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I grew them both outside in the UK.
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Hallo, the Crocuses in the pictures are from our flower-bed. Two days ago they were covered with 15-20 cm of snow and they are a little bit etiolated.
Crocus leichtlinii is from seeds we received a lot of years ago from Jim & Jenny Archibald. Crocus baytopiorum, Crocus biflorus ssp. pseodonubigena and Cr. bifl. ssp. isauricus Akseki are from Norman Stevens (Cambridge Bulbs).
Igor & Pavlina from southern Moravia
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and the rest of pictures...