Crocus Crocus 'Yalta'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Crocus 'Yalta' showcases striking blooms that are a blend of silvery-blue to violet shades, with a white heart creating a beautiful contrast in the center. The petals are slender and cup-shaped, tapering at the tips, which gives the flower a delicate and elegant look. The throat, or the innermost part of the bloom, often glistens with hints of yellow or white, adding to its charm. This plant produces grass-like foliage that is typically a vibrant green color. The leaves may feature a slender white stripe running down the center, which lends further visual interest to the plant.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Yalta Crocus
- Common names
  Crocus 'Yalta'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Crocus 'Yalta', commonly known as Crocus, is generally not toxic to humans. Most members of the Crocus genus are considered safe, and there are no well-documented cases of poisoning from the Crocus 'Yalta'. However, it is always advisable to prevent ingestion of ornamental plants which are not intended for consumption, as individual reactions can vary, and some Crocus species may cause mild stomach upset if ingested in large quantities.
- To pets
  Crocus 'Yalta', also known simply as Crocus, is not typically toxic to pets. Crocus plants are generally safe for animals, and there are no significant toxic effects associated with this plant. However, it is always advisable to keep an eye on pets around plants, as they might have individual sensitivities or allergies, and ingesting non-food items could potentially lead to gastrointestinal discomfort or blockages.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple-White
- Height
  4 inches (10 cm)
- Spread
  3 inches (7.5 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Mediterranean

Benefits

General Benefits
- Early Spring Color: Crocus 'Yalta' blooms early in the spring, providing vibrant color after a long winter.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers are a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators.
- Low Maintenance: Crocus 'Yalta' is easy to care for and requires minimal maintenance once established.
- Naturalizing: They have the ability to self-seed and spread over time, creating natural drifts of color.
- Compact Size: With its small stature, Crocus 'Yalta' is suitable for planting in rock gardens, borders, or lawns.
- Cold Hardy: This plant is able to withstand cold winter temperatures and is suitable for a variety of climates.
- Multipurpose Use: Crocus 'Yalta' can be planted in flower beds, containers, and under deciduous trees.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- The corms of Crocus 'Yalta' can be used as a food source; after careful processing to remove any toxic substances, some species' corms are edible.
- Crocus flowers can serve as a source of natural dyes; the stigmas and petals may be used to extract yellow or greenish-yellow coloring for textiles or art projects.
- The dried petals of Crocus 'Yalta' can be incorporated into potpourri mixtures for a subtle fragrance and decorative color in homes.
- A floral display of Crocus 'Yalta' can be used in educational settings to teach students about plant biology, particularly the life cycle of bulbous plants.
- Crocus 'Yalta' can be planted in outdoor gardens as an aid for studying insect behavior, as its blooms attract various pollinators like bees.
- Crocus 'Yalta' may be used in landscape design to provide an early spring interest before many other plants have started to grow.
- The vibrant colored petals of Crocus 'Yalta' can be pressed and used in art projects, such as botanical prints or in creating natural jewelry.
- The plant can be a subject for photography, offering hobbyists and professionals alike the opportunity to capture the beauty of Crocus 'Yalta' blooms.
- Gardeners may use Crocus 'Yalta' as a way to mark time, with its flowering indicating the transition from winter to spring in temperate climates.
- Crocus 'Yalta' can be used for scenting rooms naturally; the flowers can be placed in a bowl of water to gently perfume the surrounding area.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Crocus is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Crocus is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope: Crocuses often bloom in early spring, signaling the end of winter and symbolizing hope for new beginnings and renewal.
- Youthfulness: Due to their short lifespan and early appearance in the year, crocuses can represent youth and fleeting moments.
- Cheerfulness: The bright colors of the Crocus 'Yalta' can denote cheerfulness and joy, bringing a smile to those who see them after a long winter.
- Purity: The delicate and pristine appearance of crocuses can symbolize purity and innocence.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Crocus 'Yalta', commonly known as the Yalta Crocus, needs moderate and consistent watering to thrive. During the growing season, water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Usually, this means watering once a week, but the frequency can change depending on temperature and soil conditions. Expect to use about 1 gallon of water per square foot every week, ensuring thorough saturation. It's essential to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to bulb rot.
Light
Yalta Crocus prefers full to partial sunlight, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily being ideal. The best spot would be in an area that gets plenty of morning light and some afternoon shade to protect it from intense heat. Avoid deeply shaded areas, as this can impede bloom production.
Temperature
Yalta Crocus thrives in a range of temperatures but generally prefers cooler conditions. It can survive winter temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit but is best planted in fall when temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal growing temperature during the day is between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pruning
Pruning is not typically necessary for the Yalta Crocus, as they are low-maintenance. However, after blooming, you should remove spent flowers to encourage healthy growth. Trimming is generally done once the flowers fade, and the plant begins to go dormant. There's no need for regular pruning, but tidy up any yellowed or wilted leaves at the end of the growing season.
Cleaning
Not needed
Soil
The Snow Crocus 'Yalta' prefers well-drained soil rich in organic matter; a mix with equal parts potting soil, peat, and perlite is ideal. Maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
Repotting
Snow Crocus 'Yalta' should be repotted every 3 to 4 years, preferably after the blooming period when the foliage has died back.
Humidity & Misting
Snow Crocus 'Yalta' thrives in average indoor humidity levels; excessive humidity is not required.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Plant in bright light, with cool temps and well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA
Life cycle
Crocus 'Yalta', commonly known as Yalta Crocus, begins its life cycle as a corm, which is an underground storage organ. In late winter to early spring, the corm sprouts narrow, grass-like leaves and a flowering stalk, bearing large, purple-striped white flowers. Following pollination, usually by insects, the flowers produce seed capsules, although gardeners often propagate Yalta Crocus vegetatively by corm division to maintain specific cultivar traits. After flowering, the leaves photosynthesize and store energy in the corm before dying back in late spring to early summer, marking the plant's dormant stage. During dormancy, the corm rests underground throughout the summer and fall. The life cycle repeats when cooler temperatures and adequate moisture signal the corm to break dormancy and sprout again.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring
- Crocus 'Yalta', commonly known as Crocus, is typically propagated through division, which is best done in the late summer after the leaves have died back. The corms, which are storage organs like bulbs but differ in structure, should be carefully lifted from the soil and brushed clean of any soil and dead material. You then break off the offsets from the mother corm. These offsets are mini-corms that have formed at the base of the parent plant during the growing season. Offsets should be replanted promptly, about 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters) apart and 3 to 4 inches deep (7.5 to 10 centimeters), in well-draining soil in a location that receives full to partial sunlight. It is important to water them in well after replanting to settle the soil around the corms. By the following spring, these offsets will have established themselves enough to bloom.