Scientific Name:
Crocus chrysanthus
(incl. hybrid cvs.)
Pronunciation:
KROE-kuss krye-ZAN-thuss
Common Name:
snow crocus, golden crocus
Family Name:
Iridaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves basal, linear-filiform, most 10-18cm long x 1-3mm wide, die back in spring as the plant goes dormant until the fall; flowers (>1 per corm) open Feb-Mar (about 2 weeks before those of Dutch crocus).
Habit:
Open
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.1 - 0.2m
Mature Spread:
< 0.1m
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe (s.w. Europe to Turkey)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Bedding plant, Container planting, Perennial border, Small garden/space, Spring interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google (yellow cvs.). Hybrids may involve C. aerius (purple-blue cvs.) or C. biflorus (blue and white cvs.).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Fall:
Brown
Shapes:
Filiform, Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Orange, Yellow, Violet, Purple
Flower Scent:
Fragrant, Sweet
Flower Time at Peak:
Feb, Mar
Additional Info:
6 tepals
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Apr, May
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Corms
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Rodents, Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend
- (BUG) BUG garden : confirm ID
- (GRB) GRass Bed : confirm ID
- (HPZ) Horticulture PlaZa
- (LTW) Langley Township Walk
- (ONW) Overpass North side West