Fall Crocus
John Grimshaw (Sun, 17 Oct 2010 22:49:30 PDT)

I am particularly fond of Crocus pulchellus, with dainty pale blue flowers
enlivened by a golden ring in the centre. It is persistent and vigorous
here, growing well in thin turf under trees and is even self-sowing quite
well in my parents' lawn. The white form is lovely and I particularly like
of the almost grey - or mother-of-pearl -clone 'Zephyr', though I think this
is a hybrid with C. speciosus. It gives white seedlings like C. pulchellus
'Albus' though.

Hybrids with C. speciosus are inevitable if the two are grown together and
these can be very attractive. There's a large patch of a clonal one in the
garden at Colesbourne Park that has obviously been spreading about for
decades (pic on my blog). These hybrids tend to be more the size, shape &
darker colour of C. speciosus but have a less divided stigma and the white
anthers of C. pulchellus, usually with some yellow in the throat.

Jim McKenney is right to say that there is a difference in timing between
clones in Crocus speciosus. Those planted in my lawn here, bought in from a
Dutch supplier as C. speciosus, are very late (just getting going now) and
rather pale - I'd prefer them darker and earlier. I am dubious that the
various cultivars offered are really what they purport to be, but at least
they give some variation.

John Grimshaw

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Dr. John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 9NP

Tel. 01242 870567