A crocus flower poking out of the snow is a welcome early sign of spring for gardeners. Learn when to plant crocuses and how they help bees.
How to Grow Crocus Flowers
In late winter, keep your eyes peeled for purple, yellow and white crocus flowers poking out of a bed of mulch or beneath a snowy blanket. These cup-shaped blooms appear in a swath of colors, painting the landscape as early as February. Low-maintenance once established, these harbingers of spring resist most pests and diseases. They shine when planted in clusters around trees, along border edges or in rock gardens.
Crocus ancyrensis is the earliest bloomer. Plant the cultivar Little Tommies (C. tommasinianus) if you’ve had trouble with squirrels digging up your bulbs in the past. They will likely leave this variety of crocus alone. This crocus also features delicate purple flowers with a silvery center.
- Common name: Crocus
- Scientific name: Crocus spp.
- Zones 3 to 8
- Size: 2 to 6 inches tall and wide.
- Foliage: Thin, grass-like shoots sometimes with a lighter stripe.
- Light: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained soil (bulbs will rot in soggy soil)
- Bloom time: In warmer zones, as early as late January or early February, a little later further north.
- Planting time: Fall, before a hard freeze
Learn how and when to plant tulip bulbs.
When to Plant Crocus Flower Bulbs
Plant bulbs once the nighttime temperature drops to a consistent 40 to 50 degrees. Bulbs like daffodils, crocus and alliums all need a full winter in the ground. Plant the bulbs two to three times their height deep and then fertilize.
One of the reasons crocus bulbs are so popular is that they pop up at the first sign of spring, needing little to no maintenance. You can just sit back and enjoy their color peeking out of the snow.
Space them a few inches apart, about 3 to 4 inches deep with the pointed end of the crocus flower bulb up.
Check out the top 10 bulbs to plant in fall that you aren’t growing yet.
Crocus Pollinator Benefits
Start off spring with a burst of color and nectar for the bees. Crocus flowers are known for their strong scent, so they often attract the first bees and other pollinators that emerge from hibernation in early spring. As some of the season’s earliest blooms peeking out of the snow, crocuses provide a vital food source for bees emerging from their overwintering hideouts.
“I was taking pictures of my spring crocuses, and one of the honeybees we raise on our property decided to step into the picture (above) to collect pollen,” says Birds & Blooms reader Lisa Vokoun.
Crocus Flowers Not Blooming
“I had at least 50 beautiful crocuses two years ago, but last spring only three bloomed. What happened?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Karen Drazek.
Horticulture expert Melinda Myers says, “Crocuses are a favorite flower for welcoming spring. Unfortunately, they’re also popular with wildlife. Squirrels, chipmunks, voles and mice dig and nibble on crocus corms, and rabbits often dine on the flowers in spring. This may explain the disappearance of your crocus.
Also called Tommies, Crocus tommasinianus is more squirrel resistant than other varieties, but no plant is totally immune. If animal populations are high and food is scarce, even the less desirable plants are fair game. To discourage them from digging and dining, treat the crocus corms with an animal repellent before planting them, and treat the plants as they emerge in spring. Another option is growing more animal-resistant bulbs, such as grape hyacinths, alliums, hyacinths and daffodils. Although certain critters like eating them, it should be noted that crocuses are toxic to horses, dogs and cats.”
