Crocus March 2009

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Armin,
Thanks for the lovely walk you took us on ! 
What an amazing display !! 

[Gerry Webster]

This is what I have a Crocus corsicus bought from a reputable supplier 18 months ago. However this one seems to have a yellowing in the throat which is not  in the description. Is it corsicus or a hybrid ?

Ian - I have the impression that many or most of the current  Dutch imports are like this. I wonder whether it is a hybrid with C. imperatii?

[ian mcenery]

This is what I have a Crocus corsicus bought from a reputable supplier 18 months ago. However this one seems to have a yellowing in the throat which is not  in the description. Is it corsicus or a hybrid ?

Ian - I have the impression that many or most of the current  Dutch imports are like this. I wonder whether it is a hybrid with C. imperatii?

Gerry this one didn't come from Holland and is flowering as it should at be as the last one of my collection

[tonyg]

This is what I have a Crocus corsicus bought from a reputable supplier 18 months ago. However this one seems to have a yellowing in the throat which is not  in the description. Is it corsicus or a hybrid ?

Ian - I have the impression that many or most of the current  Dutch imports are like this. I wonder whether it is a hybrid with C. imperatii?

Ian you appear to be growing the same clone that I bought 20 years ago.  The same Uk supplier still offers it now but it may well originally have come in from Holland.  Mine has become 'tired' ie sick having fewer flowers and showing evidence of virus in leaves and flowers.  It is in the bonfire pile.  It used to be very vigorous, even in the garden, that and the yellow throat do suggest hybrid origins.  None of the 'wild' corsicus that I have raised from seed have any yellow in the throat.  However it would be good to hear from someone with experience of it in the wild as most crocus are much more variable than cultivated stocks suggest.

[Armin]

Ian, Gerry, Tony,

I don't have such long experience with C. corsicus and possible hybrids.
 
When I visited the Botanischen Garten Wuppertal there were C. corsicus already withered. I was quite surprised.
I always thought C. corsicus is one of the latest in blossom of spring flowering species.
Gerd was confident this stock was collected by Erich Pasche.

The picture is not very attractive but just for evidence.
Unfortunately, I did not remember the inner color of the flower tube.
The picture is to bad to identify yellow or not.

[Thomas Huber]

Thomas, for many years I was uncertain about the distinction between 'Lady Killer' and 'Prins Claus'. The illustrations I often saw in catalogs did not always match the plants in my garden.  Now I think I have accurately names stock of each, but for a long time things were a muddle.

Please take a look at these and tell me what you think:

Jim I would say, your plants are OK. Ladykiller has longer, pointed petals, Prins Claus has rounded, balloon-like petals.

[johanneshoeller]

After the avalanche the first gleam of hope in my garden. Most Crocus are from Thomas!

Crcus sieberi ssp.?
Crocus malyii (Kroatia)
Crocus tommasianus
Crocus sieberi ssp.?
Crocus gargaricus ?
Crocus ?

Thomas or anybody, do you know the correct names, I have lost the labels due to the snow!

[Maggi Young]

What a relief to see those flowers, Hans, and how good it is that you are not under the avalanche either!

[Jim McKenney]

Thomas, for many years I was uncertain about the distinction between 'Lady Killer' and 'Prins Claus'. The illustrations I often saw in catalogs did not always match the plants in my garden.  Now I think I have accurately names stock of each, but for a long time things were a muddle.

Please take a look at these and tell me what you think:

Jim I would say, your plants are OK. Ladykiller has longer, pointed petals, Prins Claus has rounded, balloon-like petals.

Thanks, Thomas.

Although I grow many crocuses identified by botanical name only, there have "always" been some of these Dutch hybrid crocuses in the garden. However, in our climate (generally sunny and warm when the crocuses are in bloom) the flowers are almost always seen wide open. And because of that - and the circumstance that the distinguishing markings are on the outside of the tepals - they all become one of two crocuses: the little white ones and the little yellow-orange ones.

This year I grew many of them in a cold frame. And this year I think I saw many of them close up and as if for the first time. The varied markings and the sometimes very subtle colors (especially in the blue ones) were a revelation to me, so much so that I now think they are wasted in the open garden. They are too good to be grown only as garden plants.

So now I have a renewed interest in these familiar plants - and I want my stocks to be correctly named!

[Janis Ruksans]

After the avalanche the first gleam of hope in my garden. Most Crocus are from Thomas!


Crocus ?

Thomas or anybody, do you know the correct names, I have lost the labels due to the snow!

The last seem to be C. korolkowii - by number of leaves and color, but I cant to see other details.
Janis

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Janis, for your note about the 'White Caucasus.' I think I've heard of that name. If it's being propagated that's good news but I doubt if it will reach New Zealand in my lifetime. Iris danfordiae is only available the last couple of years!!!

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Janis, for your note about the 'White Caucasus.' I think I've heard of that name. If it's being propagated that's good news but I doubt if it will reach New Zealand in my lifetime. Iris danfordiae is only available the last couple of years!!!

Lesley, please look in the Iris reticulata pages, too.... Luit has reminded us there of other posts about this white charmer.

[ian mcenery]

Ian, Gerry, Tony,

I don't have such long experience with C. corsicus and possible hybrids.
 
When I visited the Botanischen Garten Wuppertal there were C. corsicus already withered. I was quite surprised.
I always thought C. corsicus is one of the latest in blossom of spring flowering species.
Gerd was confident this stock was collected by Erich Pasche.

The picture is not very attractive but just for evidence.
Unfortunately, I did not remember the inner color of the flower tube.
The picture is to bad to identify yellow or not.

Armin looking at your picture there does seem to be some yellow on the outside of the flower. Must say the one shown on Tony's Crocus pages definitely doesn't show this feature http://www.thealpinehouse.fsnet.co.uk/crocus%20pages/. Perhaps it is more varied in nature  or maybe a hybrid but nice all the same. Thank you all for your input

[Janis Ruksans]

Thanks Janis, for your note about the 'White Caucasus.' I think I've heard of that name. If it's being propagated that's good news but I doubt if it will reach New Zealand in my lifetime. Iris danfordiae is only available the last couple of years!!!

I haven't WHITE CAUCASUS, too. My stock of white reticulata (wild) is only 1 flowering + 4 grains.
Another supposed white turned in very light blue.
Janis

[Sinchets]

Another Crocus (?) in the bulb frame. Could it be C.kosaninii from a different source to my others?