anthony goode a *crit : Crocus ancyrensis does badly in the open garden here. Flowers in year > one but usually midwinter in response to an unseasonal warm spell. > The flowers usually keel over immediately and it rarely survives to > repeat the performance the next year! Why does it do better for you? > Well at a guess you have a more consistent cold winter. This is a > plant that flowers near melting snow in the wild, such plants are > often difficult to please in relatively mild lowland gardens. > > Crocus goulimyi and Crocus sativus. Both of these thrive under glass > here, Crocus goulimyi increasing quite fast. However Crocus sativus > rarely flowers in the open garden, it simply is not hot and dry enough > in summer. Crocus goulimyi grows OK in the open but only increases > slowly if at all. Again it is likely that it needs warmth and > probably does not appreciate a really cold winter. Dear Tony and all, I can confirm your statement: In our mediterranean climate C ancyrensis flowers shortly and indeed 'keels over'. C goulimyi, sativus do very well here and flower abundantly during October and November. Multiply rapidly. To this category I would add Crocus hadriaticus (or hadriatus?), niveus, ochroleucus, laevigatus, corsicus. imperati Kind regards -- Lauw de Jager BULB'ARGENCE, 30300 Fourques, France Site: http://www.bulbargence.com/