Unexpected Pleasures: Fall-Blooming Crocus

Photo Courtesy of Art Today

Unexpected Pleasures: Fall-Blooming Crocus

Fall is a wonderful time of the year! After a long and hot summer, there is a renewed energy as we enter the next busy phase of the gardening season. While many plants are finishing their performance for the year, other plants are just getting started. Some of the most often overlooked plants include the fall blooming bulbs, in particular, the fall blooming crocus.

We are all familiar with the spring blooming crocus. What many of us are unaware of is that there are many crocus that will bloom in the fall. While they often resemble their spring blooming cousins, autumn-flowering crocus have different requrirements from the spring bulbs. All of them do add an unexpected touch to fall gardens, and many of them are hardy in our Southern Great Lakes region.

Crocus banaticus is hardy throughout our area, and beyond. It resembles the iris in its appearance and sports light ivory to dark purple flowers. These crocus begin to bloom in late September. Like Magic Lilies, the foliage appears in the spring, but the flowers do not appear until the fall. It does best in a cool, rich loamy soil, so it will benefit from the addition of mulch. It's height is about 4 to 5 inches.

Crocus sativus, or the Saffron Crocus, is fully hardy into zone 5, or through the entire Southern Great Lakes region. Again, there is early spring foliage and then the flowers, very crocus-like in appearance, start to bloom from September into October. This is the very same saffron crocus whose stigmas are the source of the world's most expensive spice, Saffron. While it would take countless fields of these beauties to produce enough useable saffron, for its sheer beauty of rosy purple flowers and brilliant saffron-orange stigmas, this bulb should be included more often in our fall gardens. This crocus requires a richly organic, well-drained and sunny location to do its best. Keep it fertilized, and keep in mind that it is also best replanted after about 2 to 3 years to retain the full effect of the floral display. It is about 4 inches in height.

Crocus speciosus is another good crocus for our region. This crocus sports lavender veined darker purple flower petals and deep orange stamens and stigmas. It is chalice-shaped, and has leaves which will age yellow, blending with the fall foliage. Depending upon cultivar, this crocus can bloom from early fall to mid-October in our region. It will do well in full sun to part shade, and requires a well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and it spreads readily. It is about 4 to 6 inches in height.

Crocus kotschyanus has lovely rose-colored cup-shaped flowers with golden stamens and stigmas. Its leaves do turn yellow as the season progresses. Again, plant in well-drained, rich soil in full sun to part shade. It is about 4-6 inches in height.

Crocus Sternbergia 'Lutea' is another crocus that is hardy in our region. With bright yellow flowers, it is about 4 to 6 inches in height, and will do well in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. It blooms in late September into October in our region.

The Colchicums are another group of bulbs in the group of fall crocus. Generally, these are larger in bloom, crocus-like in appearance, and share similar growth requirements to the other crocus described. What makes them differ from the crocus is the stamen count. Crocus have three stamens while colchicums have six. Colchicums send out leaves in the spring which dies down in the summer. They flower without foliage. All of them require well-drained, rich soil and do well in full sun to light shade. They must be planted as soon as they arrive, and if planting is delayed, they can often bloom in their bags! They will bloom on a window shelf if left out as well.

Colchicum speciosum 'The Giant' sends out many mauve-pink, large blooms from one bulb. Each bulb is a miniature bouquet. They bloom from September into October, and are about 4 to 6 inches in height.

Colchicum 'Bornmuelleri' is a large-flowering colchicum that has clear pink with cream centered flowers. Again, it is multi-flowering, and blooms from September to October. It is about 4 to 6 inches in height.

Colchicum speciosum 'Waterlily' has large, pink, waterlily-like double blooms. Like 'The Giant', it sends out many blooms from one bulb. Its cultural requirements are the same as well and grow from 4 to 6 inches tall.

Fall blooming crocus are a wonderful addition to the fall garden. They pep-up the color of the late garden, and are a wonderful surprise for visitors and gardeners alike! Plan to try a few of them in your fall garden soon!

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