'Joan of Arc' Crocus Bulbs

'Joan of Arc' Crocus Bulbs

Planting swathes of Joan of Arc Crocus in your lawn or grassy areas, or in pots, for stunning results in early spring, year after year. Crocus vernus, the common garden Dutch crocus is the largest Crocus variety, and one of the hardiest, among the first Spring flowers piercing the cold.

Features

• Plant height: 4-5 inches tall. Although only a couple of inches taller than the Crocus Chrysanthus variety or Snow Crocus, it's often referred to as the Giant Crocus.
• Large single cup shaped flowers sit on top of slender stems with elegant long green leaves that resemble thick blades of grass.
• Flowers are pure white with faint purple veining.
• Scented, although this is only apparent at ground level.
• Plant in autumn in well-drained soil, in full or partly shaded areas. Will tolerate clay or loamy soil, as long as it's well drained, so be sure to add a generous helping of grit to soil before planting in such conditions.
• To give bulbs the best start in life, add a little bulb food at this stage too.
• Plant bulbs, or corms as they're called, about 3-4" deep and 3-4" apart.
• Water regularly throughout the autumn and also in winter and spring, in the absence of snow fall. During the summer season, they'll happily lie dormant in drier soil conditions.
• Flowers from March to April, but in milder winters, blooming can start as early as February.
• It's important to note that Crocuses can be vulnerable to viruses, causing problems such as deformations and buds that don't open. There are no cures so it's imperative to get rid of infected plants to stop the virus spreading further.
• Bulb size: 3.5 inches.

For a natural look when planting in lawns or grassy areas, simply throw handfuls of the bulbs onto the ground and plant them where they land. A warning here, to lawn mowing enthusiasts b once blooming has finished, it's vital NOT to cut the grass for six weeks afterwards, in order to encourage self-seeding. Lift the corms every four to five years to divide and replant.

The bees absolutely love Crocuses, and being one of the first flowers of spring, they provide an invaluable food source for bees and other insects.

History & Trivia

The first records of Crocus cultivation came from the island of Crete in Roman times. It wasn't until the 1560s that the first Crocus was seen in the Netherlands, when Crocus corms were brought back from Constantinople by the Holy Roman Emperor's ambassador to the Sublime Porte.

Crocuses are members of the Iris (Iridaceae) family and the word Crocus comes from the Greek name 'krokos' meaning saffron. However, there is only one species of Crocus that provides Saffron, the Crocus Sativus, which flowers in the autumn with large purple flowers and orange stigmas. Adding the stigmas, or saffron, to fish dishes is a must try, it's delicious!