This PBS wiki page describes Spring Blooming crocus species C-E.
Crocus index - Fall Blooming crocus A-H - Fall Blooming crocus I-O - Fall Blooming crocus P-Z - Spring Blooming crocus A-B - Spring Blooming crocus F-L - Spring Blooming crocus M-S - Spring Blooming crocus T-Z
Crocus candidus reportedly grows near Mount Ida in northwest Turkey. Bowles said it was one of the last Crocuses to bloom in Spring (in March to April in the UK), and said some forms of it were also among the most floriferous. "Where weeding and hoeing are not too assiduously practiced it will sow itself freely." Photos by John Lonsdale.
Crocus chrysanthus 'Advance' - Here are 4 photos of this stunning C. chrysanthus selection with bicolored flowers that are blush lilac on the exterior of the outer tepals, creamy white interior tepals, and soft moonlight yellow inside. In each of these photos, one can also see the deep yellow flowers of another C. chrysanthus variety; 'Goldilocks', strikingly marked with dark purplish brown near the base. Flower photos by Mark McDonough, corm photo by David Pilling.
Crocus chrysanthus 'Blue Pearl' - Two photos of another excellent C. chrysanthus selection, this one a pale ice blue on the outside, even paler inside, with lovely goblet-shaped flowers. Floriferous and weather proof beauty. The flowers may appear white in the photo, because there isn't a truly white flower nearby, and the ethereal pale blue is hard to accurately capture in the photographs. Both photos by Mark McDonough.
Crocus chrysanthus 'Cream Beauty' was described by John Grimshaw as a favorite yellow flower, a lovely soft creamy yellow that is particularly effective in the garden, showing up in dull weather. Photo by Janos Agoston.
Crocus chrysanthus 'Goldilocks' - an old favorite, but still one of the best with deep yellow strikingly marked with dark purplish brown on the exterior. In the photo, the flowers are still closed, awaiting warmth and sunshine to open. Also see the photos of C. chrysanthus 'Advance' above, which show 'Goldilocks' a couple weeks later and the flowers fully open. Photo by Mark McDonough.
Crocus chrysanthus 'Prins Claus' - Perhaps my absolute favorite C. chrysanthus selection, this one has pristine white flowers marked deep purple on the outside. The sumptuous flowers are goblet-shaped with rounded tepals, wafting an enticing spicy-sweet scent. The four photos depict a clump that's about 10 years old in which there's barely enough space for the flowers to open. In many years the flowers are trashed by bad weather, but when they make it, it's worth the years of waiting. Photos by Mark McDonough. The last photograph is an overhead view of the floriferous clump taken March 29, 2003. The day after taking this picture, it poured rain, followed by 1-1/2 weeks of ice, hail, snow, and more rain, which more or less finished off this year's display.
Crocus corsicus from Corsica where it grows in stony and grassy places in the mountains and blooms in spring. It is lilac, striped on the outside, and has intense orange or red styles. First photograph by Tony Goode and the next ones from Mary Sue Ittner of plants blooming January 2006.
Crocus cvijicii is native to Serbia, Greece, Albania, and Macedonia and is found in Alpine meadows blooming as the snow melts. It has showy yellow flowers with an orange stigma and blooms in spring just as the leaves are emerging. (In case you're wondering, the name is in honor of Joran Cvijic, a leading authority on the geology of Macedonia in the 1920s. Bowles wrote, "I have never discovered how this name should be pronounced, whether it is better to imitate a sneeze or, as a witty friend of mine put it, 'to play it on the violin.'") First photo by Tony Goode, second by John Lonsdale.
Crocus cyprius comes from Cyprus, which should not be a surprise to anyone, considering its name. Bowles commented, "it is rather delicate, but so beautiful that it is worth protecting in a frame or under a hand-light." Photos by John Lonsdale.
Crocus dalmaticus grows along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It has lilac flowers with a yellow center and generally a buff-colored exterior, although Mathew reported finding one that was almost gold-colored on the exterior, and Bowles reported forms with exteriors that were "grayish lavender" and "rosy lilac." Blooms in February in the northern hemisphere. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Crocus danfordiae has small flowers, usually pale yellow with gray speckles on the outside, but there are also pale blue and white forms, according to Mathew. Because of its small flowers, Bowles considered it "a botanical curiosity rather than a decorative plant." It comes from the Anti-Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Crocus etruscus. Mathew reports that this species, from woodlands in northwestern Italy, is easy to grow in sun or part sun. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Crocus index - Fall Blooming crocus A-H - Fall Blooming crocus I-O - Fall Blooming crocus P-Z - Spring Blooming crocus A-B - Spring Blooming crocus F-L - Spring Blooming crocus M-S - Spring Blooming crocus T-Z