crocus

Crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family Iridaceae, consisting of about 80 to 90 species. Native to southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia east to the western Himalayas, crocuses are widely cultivated and have become naturalized in many regions.

Crocuses grow from corms, have slender leaves, and produce cup-shaped flowers with six petal-like parts (tepals) that occur in colors ranging from purple and blue to yellow and white. Blooms occur at different times; autumn-flowering species such as the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) and many garden varieties bloom in autumn, while spring-flowering species such as Crocus vernus, Crocus chrysanthus, and Crocus tommasinianus bloom in spring.

These plants prefer well-drained soils and sunny to partially shaded sites. In temperate regions they typically require a period of winter cold to trigger flowering and can naturalize by corm offsets.

Cultivation notes: plant corms in late summer to early autumn, about 5–10 cm deep and a similar spacing, in well-drained soil. Water sparingly when dormant. They are valued as garden ornamentals and for naturalizing in grassy areas and rock gardens.

Saffron crocus: Crocus sativus is cultivated for its three red stigmas, which are dried to produce saffron. It is sterile and propagated vegetatively from corms; major producers include Iran, Greece, Spain, and India.

Notable species include Crocus vernus (spring crocus), Crocus chrysanthus (golden crocus), and Crocus tommasinianus (tommies). The genus name derives from the Greek krokos.