Crocus September 2009

[Thomas Huber]

Mark, pallasii is very variable and I have to admit, that most forms don't hit my taste of a good looking crocus.
But the form from Crimea, that Janis shows is a real beauty and I hope it will soon be in his catalogue.

I have nudiflorus from 9 different sources, but 8 have the same appearence, only 1 is smaller than the others.

[tonyg]

But the form from Crimea, that Janis shows is a real beauty and I hope it will soon be in his catalogue.

Yes! I forgot to add that same comment!!

[mark smyth]

JR's photos prompted my question

[Janis Ruksans]

As shown in my post reply 205 above the Crocus pallasii ssp pallasii that I have are never good flowers. Every year they have long narrow petals. Is the shape variable?

How variable is nudiflorus? I have one open today that is shorter than the rest and much ricker in colour. The petals are more rounded with dark purple tips

Narrow flower segments are more typical to most widespread Turkish samples of Crocus pallasii pallasii. Crimean plants generally all has much wider flower segments and are far more beautiful.
Janis

[Tony Willis]

I have just been looking at my hadriaticus and again they are very variable in petal shape from rounded to quite pointed. Not really surprising.

Crocus niveus open this afternoon in a bit of sunshine

[mark smyth]

I think they are the best niveus I have ever seen

[Ragged Robin]

Wonderful 

[Tony Willis]

thank you,first time flowering and I am pleased with them

[Janis Ruksans]

I have just been looking at my hadriaticus and again they are very variable in petal shape from rounded to quite pointed. Not really surprising.

Crocus niveus open this afternoon in a bit of sunshine

Excellent wide, rounded flower segments. Superb!
Janis

[Diane Clement]

Narrow flower segments are more typical to most widespread Turkish samples of Crocus pallasii pallasii. Crimean plants generally all has much wider flower segments and are far more beautiful.   Janis  

This is what I have as Crocus pallasii, so I think it be one of the Turkish ones.  I quite like it and it is doing well in the open garden

[Boyed]

I think both forms of crocus pallasii Turkish and Crimean ones are equally beautiful. I often see kind of subjective point when judging the beauty of plants: usually rarely seen and grown plants are much praised than oftenmore beautiful common ones. I often notice if the classic rounded petaled forms dominate among the definite species we thrive to get or obtain narrow-petaled and pointed-petaled ones, thinking that they are more beautiful. But when the narrow-petaled samples are more common we do the opposite. It is not the objective point of judging. Fore example, for me (for conservative person in flowers) the classic shaped ones with wide petals are always more preferable in every case.

[tonyg]

Narrow flower segments are more typical to most widespread Turkish samples of Crocus pallasii pallasii. Crimean plants generally all has much wider flower segments and are far more beautiful.   Janis  

This is what I have as Crocus pallasii, so I think it be one of the Turkish ones.  I quite like it and it is doing well in the open garden

A very pretty form Diane.  Interesting that you have it outside.  I think of it as a dryland species and I don't think of the W Midlands as being dry   How long has it been outside?

[jnovis]

Hi all, Here in Sussex, my first Autumn crocus to flower was speciosus xantholaimos,shown here being pollinated by a hoverfly. Today, I also have several Boryi out and one flower of serotinus salzmannii, regards J.Novis

[Diane Clement]

A very pretty form Diane.  Interesting that you have it outside.  I think of it as a dryland species and I don't think of the W Midlands as being dry  How long has it been outside?  

Funny you should say that Tony, as I didn't originally realise this, and planted it outside a couple of years ago with several other autumn flowering crocuses to see how they did.  When it came into flower a week or so ago, I looked on your site to check it was the correct species and saw that you said it needed a dry summer rest.  Well ... it certainly hasn't had that this year (although September has been almost dry to make up for it).  It's actually planted in a net pot which was visible but I photoshopped it out.  It's at the top of a sloping bed so quite well drained.    

[tonyg]

Hi all, Here in Sussex, my first Autumn crocus to flower was speciosus xantholaimos,shown here being pollinated by a hoverfly. Today, I also have several Boryi out and one flower of serotinus salzmannii, regards J.Novis

Welcome Jim!
In Norwich, ?130 miles north of you the season is at about the same stage.  I too have my first Crocus speciosus ssp xantholaimos, Crocus boryi and Crocus serotinus in flower.  Also in the 'kept moist' area Crocus nudiflorus and Crocus kotschyanus are flowering.