Crocus February - 2009

[mark smyth]

Here's the group of tomm 'Claret' from last year and my C. minimus

[Gerry Webster]

The Narcissus thread has recently shown plants growing in rubbish. Here is Crocus tommasinianus  growing in a strip of wasteland used for fly tipping at the top of the railway embankment on the approach to Brighton Station. They seem to thrive on their diet of rubbish & look bigger & healthier than the plants in nearby gardens or in my own. 

[annew]

There's a lesson in there somewhere.
This clump of C tommasinianus roseus looks great, but close inspection shows every flower to be striped, presumably by virus. Can anyone swap me something for a bulb or two of a clean stock?

[mark smyth]

Anne I have clean stock

[David Nicholson]

Here are some of mine from today. Crocus versicolor ex. Dept. Var is from Dirk (I find that Var is a French Department, something like a UK county) followed by C. sieberi ssp sublimis f. tricolor also from Dirk. I have clumps of what I think is C. tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant' dotted around the garden but have never been sure that it is not 'Whitewell Purple' can anyone ID it please.

 

[Lesley Cox]

What are we supposed to call these if not minimus?

A stunning potful Anne, but why would we NOT call them minimus?

[Lesley Cox]

Here is Crocus tommasinianus  growing in a strip of wasteland used for fly tipping at the top of the railway embankment on the approach to Brighton Station. They seem to thrive on their diet of rubbish & look bigger & healthier than the plants in nearby gardens or in my own. 

Presumably these too, were someone's "rubbish" Gerry?

[Lesley Cox]

Crocus kossaninii 'April View' is flowering now which goes to show that Galanthus and Crocus named for a flowering time doesnt work

Not only crocus and galanthus Mark.

In NZ Rhodo 'Christmas Cheer' flowers May-August and N. 'February Gold' flowers in September. There is a certain arrogance about the people who name such plants. They ignore the fact that there is a world apart from England.

[BULBISSIME]

Yes Davis, VAR is a french department, where Crocus versicolor grows as well as in ALPES MARITIMES.

I hope we'll be able to show you them in the wild with Thomas in few weeks 

[mark smyth]

Rhodo 'Christmas Cheer' used to be forced for the Christmas market - I was told

[Thomas Huber]

Mark,here is what I have under that name.

Crocus vernus subsp.albiflorus B

Michael, vernus ssp albiflorus has a style much shorter than the anthers and is smaller thank ssp vernus,
so I guess your plant with the long style is ssp vernus.

[annew]

Janis Ruksans states that the true C minimus is the last crocus to flower, and any that flower early, as these do, are not the true species. Maybe we should just call them C minimus of gardens?

[tonyg]

Flowering time is very much influenced by the growing conditions.  Not just at flowering time but throughout the season from planting to flowering.  In cultivation this effect is exaggerated as some of us grow frost free while others expose the plants to nature.  Nature also varies - look at our German correspondents gardens right now!
Anne - you clearly take good care of your plants, they look great!  Mine are more neglected  and will flower later.
All this said, you do have what I call the horticultural clone of Crocus minimus.  I think it most likely is C minimus although I would not rule out hybrid origins with C corsicus.  Does anyone have info on the origins of this widely grown clone?

[annew]

I just wanted to show you my stunning crocus lawn. I think I have a way to go to match Thomas, but at least some of them came up!

[Carlo]

Everyone needs a before, Anne...