Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: Janis Ruksans on September 07, 2013, 12:59:19 PM
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Very strange year. We had the first night frost this morning but now outside is so hot that I went inside house, can't work more. Just finished replanting of Erythroniums and wanted to start Corydalis, but it is far too hot.
Cold nights finally encouraged crocuses to blooming and the best present for my birthday 5th of September was Crocus scharojanii flavus finally opening flowers, but I pictured it only today - early morning and again few hours ago. It is first time when I got perfect colours of this beauty.
Very interesting is this form of Crocus suworovianus collected by Arnis and Gerben over Altiparmak in NE Turkey. They both went up in mountains to snow line with tend and passed there night whilst I and Henrik enjoyed cans with frozen bear on small villages hotel's balcony - temperature was over 30 C.
Very beautiful is Crocus vallicola from N Caucas - this one was collected by Henrik in Krasnodar district a pair of years ago.
Crocus gilanicus from Gothenburg BG this year formed very small flowers, usually it is larger. This is white form, lilac forms still are under ground.
Janis
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Another surprise is very early blooming of Crocus caspius. This sample I got in 2012 and it travelled here from Australia, from Otto Fauser. May be early blooming is caused by change of seasons - in any case it's acclimatisation was surprisingly good. It comes from original collection of Paul Furse and I put here 4 pictures of it. Note black midrib of anthers in one specimen.
Last picture for today is legendary Crocus autranii. It still is growing in Abchasia and was observed there by my friend Dima from Ukraine.
Janis
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A few days late but we send best wishes for many happy returns of your birthday, Janis.
Wonderful crocus and how exciting to see the Paul Furse C. caspius, from Otto. I don't know if you are aware, but Otto is in hospital at the moment - he is in good spirit though and will be home soon, we hope.
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The Crocus scharojanii flavus morning picture is like candles on a birthday cake.
happy birthday Janis!
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A few days late but we send best wishes for many happy returns of your birthday, Janis.
Wonderful crocus and how exciting to see the Paul Furse C. caspius, from Otto. I don't know if you are aware, but Otto is in hospital at the moment - he is in good spirit though and will be home soon, we hope.
Thank you, Maggie, but I tired too much. Far too great ammount. Must decrease a lot, but I don't know how.
Janis
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Few more crocuses
Crocus speciosus from Crimea - Tschatir Dag - very early runner
Crocus hadriaticus - nice pure white from Mnt. Parnasos, Greece got by wish of Jim Archibald
and last - nice form of Crocus damascenus (or cancellatus subsp. damascenus)
Janis
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Janis, nice to see that the crocus are celebrating your birthday with their beautiful flowers. Best wishes from me too!
Poul
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Some crocus from the last 3 days
1. Crocus cappadocicus
2. C. cappadocicus
3. Crocus suworovianus form 1 (+ cappadocicus)
4. C. suworovianus form 1
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Some more
1. Crocus suworovianus form2
2. C. suworovianus form2
3. Crocus suworovianus var. lilacinus
4. C. suworovianus var. lilacinus
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And finally
1. Crocus autranii
2. C. autranii
3. C. autranii
All of them growing in either an open frame or under glass. In the open garden Crocus banaticus and Crocus nudiflorus follow soon
Poul
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Poul, Janis : fantastic crocus - they are a joy to start the season aren't they?
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All of them growing in either an open frame or under glass. In the open garden Crocus banaticus and Crocus nudiflorus follow soon
Poul
Hi Poul can you show overall photos of your open frame design?
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We had few cloudy although still warm days but crocus flowers were closed. Today again appeared sun and gave opportunity for pollination and for pictures. So will follow some entries with current pictures.
Seedling of Crocus boryi was the first of this beautiful species blooming today
Then follow some cancellatus - the first two are from Turkey, the last two are from Greek Islands (Samos) - note the deep yellow throat - the deepest yellow in my collection
BATM-383 is the smallest, very miniature but in same time nice flowers. Unfortunately there is mistake in numbering, so I don't know exact locality - must go back in planting books.
Janis
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Few more cancellatus - RUDA-061 is one of the best forms. It comes from Turkey, Topuz pass.
SASA-022 is white and it comes from joint trip of Arnis+Norman Stevens+Jim to Turkey.
Crocus pallasii JJJ-016 from Turkey - not far from Antalya
Janis
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Three more affinities of cancellatus - most likely must be regarded as species - Crocus damascenus - two are from Iran - WHIR collected by me, another by leading Allium specialist Reinhardt Fritsch
and the third comes from Turkey, Kubbe gec.
Then Crocus hadriaticus from Mnt. Parnassos in Greece
and the last in this entry is Crocus serotinus
Janis
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Crocus pulchellus KJGR-065 - from Chios is the first pulchellus blooming this autumn
Crocus salzmannii (former subsp. of serotinus) is represented by three forms - very stoloniferous from Sierra Nevada
cv. 'El Torchal' - the best white form of serotinus sensu lato
and JP-91-77 got from Gothenburg BG
Still blooming some of Crocus suworovianus - JRRK-018 - After Kelkir on Rd. from Erzincan
Janis
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The earliest of speciosus this season is specimens from Crimea in S Ukraine, most likely different from all other speciosus (at least by chromosomes)
Then follow Crocus speciosus bolensis from two localities. It was described by me this summer. Note position of stigma and compare it with plants from Crimea.
An the last picture today is of Crocus vallicola - they are seedlings from open pollinated plants in my collection. Vallicola is quite similar to suworovianus, but always bloom later and note tips of petals, although some of suworovianus slightly tend to similar ending, but never is so prominently expressed.
Janis
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Some stunning plants Janis some of those cancellatus are superb and I just love Crocus vallicola.
our Crocus are also starting to bloom in the garden when we get some sunshine.
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Very beautiful Janis. Here the weather is now cooler and the rain is watering the pots so mine will be coming soon I hope.
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Crocus autranii is flowering now . (here the second autumn species that flowers after scharojanii ssp. flavus )[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
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Janis, beautiful crocuses! In particular the KJGR-065 pulchellus and the dark colored speciosus from Crimea.
Poul
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Crocus autranii is flowering now . (here the second autumn species that flowers after scharojanii ssp. flavus )
Congratulations Kris!
Nice to see the open autranii in sunshine. Hopefully it is not a snail egg laying close to the stem in pic3. I have often problems with snails and slugs in my cool, humid frame. Unfortunately they like the same conditions as the damp growing crocus.
Poul
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A few crocus has opened their flowers
1. Crocus suworovianus lilacinus is flowering for the second time
2. Crocus banaticus
3. Crocus dispathaceus
Poul
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Crocus blooming got speed
Beautiful form of Crocus speciosus bolensis and Crocus cartwrightianus Michel
Janis
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Congratulations Kris!
Nice to see the open autranii in sunshine. Hopefully it is not a snail egg laying close to the stem in pic3. I have often problems with snails and slugs in my cool, humid frame. Unfortunately they like the same conditions as the damp growing crocus.
Poul
Hmmmm good tip Poul , must check it about the snail egg . In summer this species is plunged in my peatbed and when it is in flower I put it in a more Sunny and dry position . So it could be a snail egg from my peatbed >:(
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Beautiful crocuses, Janis, Kris, Poul
My poor offering - first flowers appearing of Crocus pulchellus
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Beautiful crocuses, Janis, Kris, Poul
My poor offering - first flowers appearing of Crocus pulchellus
Humm , for me it don't looks that poor Roma. Are you growing it outside al year round ?
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Beautiful crocuses, Janis, Kris, Poul
My poor offering - first flowers appearing of Crocus pulchellus
Beautiful pulchellus - it looks very similar to Janis' C. pulchellus KJGR-065.
Poul
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I think my original Crocus pulchellus came from the Cruickshank Botanic Garden. (one of the perks of working there) It would probably have been an old commercial clone. The crocuses in my garden originated in seeds or cormlets thrown out with old potting compost and are now taking over the garden. I think the seed is spread by ants. They start flowering now and will go on till late October.
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Yesterday I finished replanting of Tulipa and today all the time was dedicated for ordering of Frits and greenhouse Corydalis in planting order but afternoon used for Crocus notes. We still have +21 C and no drop of rain in last two weeks. But crocuses are blooming regardless of hot weather. Today started Crocus banaticus First Snow
Then few Crocus cancellatus - beautiful selection of unknown wild origin (not marked on label)
Another cancellatus from Samos - again note deep yeloow throat - typical for pklants from Samos
Next is Crocus hadriaticus with very dark tube collected by me on Peloponnes - PELOG-003 - the darkest hadriaticus tube seen by me
And as last - the first flower of Crocus nerimaniae
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In this entry some C. mathewii - the darkest I got from Cyril Lafong as "Pink form" - really very deep lilac and with almost blackish base.
Next two are wonderfull form of Crocus mathewii (JJJ-018) pictured from two positions - from side and top
And last in this entry view from part of Crocus vallicola collection
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On this entry Crocus pallasii - two very pretty forms - one from Crimea, another from Gothenburg BG
The third is Crocus pallasii from Samos Island (Greece) - so pale that not easy to recognise in it pallasii (may be it is another species?)
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And last entry for today is dedicated to Crocus speciosus
At first two oldies - cultivars Albus and Artabir
Then novelty - Crocus speciosus hellenicus - described by me this summer - two pictures both from Northern population. Plants from Varnakovo received from another grower all died. May be one will alive. They are quite similar, all are very pale from outside.
And as last picture is albino from Tschatir Dag in Crimea
Janis
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:o What a fantastic selection Janis .
Here the first flowers of C. suworovianus .
Second flower on C. autranii.
Also first flowers on C. banaticus 'Snowdrift'
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Nice Crocus from all, here my first flowers outside:
Crocus speciosus, grown from wild coll. seeds near Abant Lake
'' '' 'Blue Abant', a selection with a shorter stem from Abant
Lake seedlings
and Crocus nudiflorus 'Orla'
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Hi Dirk!
Very nice blooms!
Is that a white nudiflorus?
I didn`t see something.
Greetings- Daniel
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Crocus pulchellus taking over the garden. I like the flowers but the leaves can be a nuisance when they grow through small plants. The colour varies from quite pale to a fairly strong blue but not as blue as the pictures.
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Hi Dirk!
Very nice blooms!
Is that a white nudiflorus?
I didn`t see something.
Greetings- Daniel
Yes Daniel, this is a white nudiflorus, very early for this species.
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My first two of the season from my very much slimmed down collection (got to save space somehow!) where I'm only growing stuff I've grown from seed.
Crocus pulchellus from 2009 Crocus Group seed sown October 2009 and first flowering this year.
Crocus longiflorus " " " " " " " " " " " " "
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A wonderful Crocus longiflorus, David.
Crocus speciosus does not yet bloom with me, but Crocus banaticus.
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Thank you Ebbie, I'm quite pleased with that one.
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Crocus speciosus does not yet bloom with me, but Crocus banaticus.
Nice clump of banaticus! Is the white ones the cultivar First Snow?
Poul
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My crocuses enjoy the sunshine
1. Crocus nudiflorus
2. C. nudiflorus
3. C. pulchellus and niveus
4. C. niveus
5. C. speciosus
Poul
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A few more
1 - 2. Crocus niveus blue form
3. C. cartwrightianus Marcel
4. C. cappadocicus
5. C. vallicola
Poul
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Again some sun and possibility to make pictures and pollination of autumn crocuses. At first two forms of Crocus assumaniae - the first from Baba-dag, another is white form.
On third picture you can see pot with seedlings of Crocus banaticus 'First Snow'. It is first blooming (seed crop of 2010) and most are purple but between them one white specimen shines.
Then Crocus boryi from Taygetos and as
last in this entry - very dark form of Crocus goulimyi
Janis
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Nice clump of banaticus! Is the white ones the cultivar First Snow?
Poul
Thanks Poul. Yes, the white crocus is 'First Snow'.
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Still some pictures from 30th september, so still in September entry:
Two different Crocus cartwrightianus - cultivqars Michel and Purple Heart
And three hadriaticus - Anabelle, Dark Ace and Archibalds form
Janis
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Some more Crocus hadriaticus seedlings (note difference in throat colour) and Crocus tournefortii
Janis
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Crocus pictured on first two pictures was grown up from open pollinated Crocus ilgazensis seeds. When they bloomed - clearly were visible features of pulchellus, confirming that it is hybris. I named it 'Fantasy'
Then Crocus kotschyanus (excellent form collected by me in Turkey) and again hybrid (this case raised, I suppose by Potterton & Martin) - kotschyanus x ochroleucus
and last in this entry - Crocus oreocreticus
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Now 2 forms of Crocus longiflorus (throat colour) and three of Crocus mathewii, the first was collected last spring (2012) without flowers, then KARIN from Gothenburg BG and as last DREAM DANCER (who selected it - I don't know).
Janis
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After long work sawing and resawing seeds finally I got healthy (virus-free) stock of Crocus nerimaniae (2 pictures)
Then 2 pictures of Crocus pulchellus from Chios - all grown up from seeds
And last here - Crocus riobertianus from Greece - almost white specimen blindly collected in spring
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And last entry from September =
Crocus speciosus cultivar OXONIAN is the latest from dutch cultivars and one of three still grown by me (other two are Albus and Artabir). It is easy saparable from others (and plants usually offered by this name on trade) by its deep purple flower tube. I don't know any other cultivar with such colour.
Then 3 pictures of Iranian C. speciosus archibaldiorum
and on last is common view of Autumn crocus bed in my nursery (it is collection). Flowering of autumn crocuses is long-time process starting in July with scharojanii and ending with permanent frost (now we had first snow and this morning temperature was minus 5 C). Many already finished and many still not started blooming. Spring blooming is much more compressed in time, so it looks more abbundant.
Janis
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and as last DREAM DANCER (who selected it - I don't know).
Janis
Dream Dancer looks like it has C. sativus in it with the long styles.
Rimmer
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Janis,
your post are always very interesting!
crocus speciosus alchibaldiorum is a real beauty having such nice patterns.
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Thanks Poul. Yes, the white crocus is 'First Snow'.
The other day Rimmer sent us this nice photo of his 'First Snow ' - I would have shown it then but I managed to misplace it until now.....
[attachimg=1]
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I'm a bit late but here are a few images of crocus from September:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/11628294683_4298723d24_o.jpg)
Crocus banaticus growing under a Himalayan Birch in the garden.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/11628439354_d2ce12c7b6_o.jpg)
Crocus banaticus albus This single bulb just "appeared" in a small area of the garden normally tended by our canine archaeologist and is probably being nurtured by a neolithic lamb shank. I meant to dig it up but missed the opportunity and now wee Dougie (the dug) has covered the area with fresh soil.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/11614062576_400b706847_o.jpg)
Crocus vallicola This individual is in a pot but might be better planted out to avoid a summer baking.
Vallicola is an aristocrat amongst crocus with those delicate whispy terminal tips to the petals being a touch of artistic genius!
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Just the most amazing pictures of crocus! How does one convert from growing snowdrops? The picture of Janis' tunnel and that last photo of C. vallicola are something else.
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Just the most amazing pictures of crocus! How does one convert from growing snowdrops? The picture of Janis' tunnel and that last photo of C. vallicola are something else.
Very simple, Tim - walk towards the colour! Croconuttery is a sublime obsession.
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I know it's driven me nuts. I used to have a normal life, off to the pub, visiting friends, watching tele now is all the time crouched over fiddling in the dirt and reading catalogs!
Wonderful photo of C. vallicola. It and C. suworianus are the first to flower here in Tassie but it seems like a futile effort because the intense heat just withers the blooms within days. I don't know what triggers flowering in these cases because it certainly isn't moisture or temperature, maybe day length?
Cheers, Marcus
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Could C. vallicola be grown in the garden or does it need an alpine house? It is very beautiful.
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I think you could have Crocus vallicola outside ,Margaret . We have some in a little raised sand bed and in a pot sitting in an open frame which theoretically gets a cover in the worst weather but in fact seldom does get covered.
It is a very lovely crocus- one of Ian's favourites.
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Thank you, Maggi. I notice Pottertons have one to sell. I don't know anything about crocus but it seems a bit late to sell spring bulbs. I've emailed them to check if it will be OK or if it's in a pot. If I get it I will be checking Ian's Bulb Log again to find out how to look after it. It can be sure of lots of TLC.
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Could C. vallicola be grown in the garden or does it need an alpine house? It is very beautiful.
I had C. vallicola in the open garden years ago & although it grew & flowered the flowers looked miserable & lasted less than a day. I suspect it needed much cooler conditions than I could provide. So, my experience of the plant is much like that of Marcus.
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Thank you, Gerry. I have lots of cooler spots in the garden but they are shady. Wouldn't this be a problem for a crocus?
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Thank you, Gerry. I have lots of cooler spots in the garden but they are shady. Wouldn't this be a problem for a crocus?
Shade might be a problem.
If it is of any help, Mathew describes the habitat of C. vallicola as "open subalpine pastures & alpine turf......1000-2800 (- 3000) metres".
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Thanks, Gerry. I am now thinking how to fit a cold frame on to my allotment which is sunny. This would give me some scope to grow more of the lovely flowers I read about on the SRGC.
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I grew it outside in partly shaded spot for many years but lost from rodents or in very hard winter. Now I'm growing it only in pots - safe against both...
Janis