How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Crocuses
Choose a planting site where there is well-draining soil. The corms will rot in soggy, compacted ground. Crocuses do best in a spot that gets full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight), but will grow in partial sun as well. Before planting, work in organic matter such as compost to a depth of at least 10 inches.
When to Plant Crocuses
- Crocuses need to experience a period of cold weather in order to bloom, so plant them in the fall for spring blooms.
- Before the ground freezes in the fall, crocus corms can be planted most anywhere, except in the dense shade on the north side of buildings or under thickets.
- Ideally, plant crocus corms 6 to 8 weeks before a hard frost is expected in the fall and when the soil temperature is below 60°F (16°C). This is usually during September or October in the northern U.S. and Canada, and October or November in the southern United States.
How to Plant Crocuses
- Plant crocus corms 3 to 4 inches deep (with the pointy end up). After planting, water well.
- Plant bulbs in groups or clusters rather than spacing them in a single line along a walkway or border. Single flowers get lost in the landscape. Plant a few inches apart, and plant in groups of 10 or more.
- Consider planting crocuses in lawns and meadows where they can form carpets, or mass them in the front of flower beds along the edge.
- Plant taller spring-flowering bulbs and shrubs behind the early bulbs for color contrast.
→ Learn more about planting fall bulbs.
A carpet of crocuses makes for a wonderful spring sight!
- ‘Bowles White’ produces white flowers with deep golden yellow throats in early spring. It grows 2 to 3 inches tall.
- ‘Flower Record’ has single pale violet flowers in spring to early summer. It grows 4 to 5 inches tall.
- ‘Pickwick’ is a striped crocus with alternating pale and dark lilac and dark purple bases. It’s 4 to 5 inches tall and blooms in spring to early summer.
- ‘Tricolor Crocus’ is a beauty. Each narrow flower has three distinct bands of lilac, white, and golden yellow. It grows 3 inches tall and blooms in late winter and early spring.
- ‘Purpureus Grandiflorus’ has abundance violet flowers with purple bases. It grows 4 to 5 inches tall and blooms spring to early summer.
Crocuses peaking up through the snow.
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Last fall I planted Saffron Crocus for the first time. I planted them in a large pot, out doors. They grew fine, bloomed and I even got several stigmas from them. Once the flowers died, the plants produced a grass like growth. It's about 10 to 12 inches long. Do I need to trim this growth back or should I leave it alone? Like I said they are new to my garden, and I would like them to grow back. Thanks for any info anyone can give me.
Is there any difference in the care for saffron crocus?
I don't know where YOU live.....but here in St Helens, OR the DEER love crocus. As soon as the flower sticks it's head up the deer eat them......so I have beds of green plants......all my flowers are gone....again. My fault.....we had snow and I didn't re-spray my deer repellent soon enough......they got 'em!!!
do deer like to eat crocus leaves or flowers?
We have a deer problem where we live.
Supposed to be deer resistant, but I live in Zone 7a and the deer eat mine.
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