Early Crocus Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple', commonly known as the woodland crocus or early crocus, is a flowering plant that displays a delicate and charming appearance. Featuring a slender stem, this variety stands upright with a single flower arising from each stem. The bloom itself is most striking for its color—a rich, vibrant purple that can sometimes exhibit a silvery sheen, particularly under the sunlight. The petals are elongated and cup-shaped, tapering to gentle points. Inside, the throat of the flower contrasts with its bright orange or yellow anthers, which stand out vividly against the purple petals. The leaves of the woodland crocus are narrow and grass-like, with a glossy green color that may show a central pale stripe. These slender foliage blades typically emerge from the base of the plant either alongside or shortly after the flowers do. The leaves often remain attractive even after the flowers have finished blooming, providing lingering visual interest. The woodland crocus is also known for its ability to naturalize and spread over time, creating carpets of color which can be quite striking in early spring when much of the landscape has yet to awaken. The plant's charming and delicate appearance belies its hardy nature, as it is able to withstand the cool temperatures of the spring season.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Early Crocus, Tommasini's Crocus, Woodland Crocus
- Common names
  Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple', commonly known as the Early Crocus, is not considered toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of this plant is not commonly associated with poisoning or severe adverse effects. Consequently, consuming the Early Crocus is not expected to result in symptomatology related to toxicity.
- To pets
  The Early Crocus, Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple', is considered mildly toxic to pets. If a pet ingests part of this plant, they may experience gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to monitor pets and prevent them from ingesting plants, as individual reactions to even mildly toxic plants can vary.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple
- Height
  4 inches (10 cm)
- Spread
  3 inches (7.5 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Balkans

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ecosystem Support: Provides nectar and pollen for early-season pollinators such as bees, which are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems.
- Landscape Beautification: Adds vibrant purple color to gardens during the late winter or early spring when few other plants are in bloom.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, making it a very convenient choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Cold Hardy: Resistant to cold and frost, allowing it to thrive in a variety of climates and returning yearly even after harsh winters.
- Naturalizing: Spreads easily to form natural-looking groups, which can create drifts of color in garden settings or naturalized areas.
- Early Bloomer: One of the first flowers to bloom, signaling the end of winter and the beginning of spring, offering an early start to the garden season.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it can endure periods of dry weather, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Compact Size: With its small and neat growth habit, it is perfect for borders, rock gardens, and underplanting taller spring-flowering bulbs.
- Pest Resistant: Generally resistant to deer and rodents, reducing the need for pest control methods.
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
- Art and Craft Pigments: The petals of the Crocus tommasinianus, commonly known as the 'Early Crocus', can be used to create natural dyes or pigments for art projects, adding a unique and organic touch to paintings and textiles.
- Botanical Illustration Subject: 'Early Crocus' is popular among botanical illustrators for its vibrant purple hues and delicate structure, making it an excellent subject for detailed botanical art.
- Photography: Due to its early blooming and striking color, the 'Early Crocus' is often used by photographers seeking to capture the first signs of spring in garden and nature photography.
- Garden Design Element: 'Early Crocus' can be used as a design element in winter gardens due to its ability to bloom even when snow is present, offering a contrasting color against typically muted winter landscapes.
- Educational Resource: This plant serves as a resource in schools or educational programs, where students who study botany or plant biology can learn about bulb propagation and early spring bloomers.
- Eco-printing Material: The flowers and leaves of 'Early Crocus' can be used for eco-printing, a technique where plant materials are used to leave natural prints on paper or fabric.
- Floral Arrangements: Although not commonly used in cut floral arrangements due to their short stems, 'Early Crocus' flowers can beautifully accentuate small, delicate table arrangements.
- Pot Pourri Ingredient: Once dried, the petals of the 'Early Crocus' can be included in potpourris for a subtle floral scent and a natural splash of color in home decoration.
- Culinary Garnish: The vibrant flowers can be used as an edible garnish in high-end culinary presentations, though they don't contribute significant flavor.
- Symbolic Gift: In some cultures, giving a bulb or a flower of the 'Early Crocus' can symbolize hope and cheerfulness, making it a meaningful gift as the seasons transition from winter to spring.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Crocus is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Crocus is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope - Crocuses are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, symbolizing the anticipation of new beginnings and hope after the long winter months.
- Youthfulness - The delicate and youthful appearance of the Crocus reflects the theme of youth and joy.
- Cheerfulness - The bright purple hue of 'Barr's Purple' Crocus is often associated with cheerfulness and happiness, bringing a pop of color to the early spring landscape.
- Rebirth - As a spring bloomer, the Crocus represents rebirth and the cycle of life, as it emerges from the cold ground to signal the renewal of nature.
- Attachment - Given as a gift, Crocuses can symbolize strong attachment and the longing to be with someone as they appear each year reliably.

💧

Every 3-4 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Early autumn

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
For the Early Crocus, during its growing season in the spring, it is necessary to keep the soil moderately moist. The best way to water these bulbs is by giving them a deep watering every few days, particularly if there has been a lack of rain, which may equate to about 1 gallon per square foot every week. But as they are drought-tolerant, overwatering or waterlogged soil must be avoided to prevent bulb rot. Once they have finished flowering and their foliage begins to die back, you can reduce watering as they enter dormancy. During the dormant period in the summer, no additional watering is typically needed unless the season is exceptionally dry.
Light
Early Crocus thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. Plant them in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They are adaptable to varying light conditions, but for optimal flowering, a location where they receive morning sun is ideal, as the gentle rays encourage bud opening without causing potential damage that might result from the heat of intense afternoon sun.
Temperature
Early Crocus prefers cool to moderate temperatures, with an ideal range between 35 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They are hardy to USDA zones 3 through 8 and can tolerate winter temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they will start to struggle in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, when they typically enter their dormancy phase.
Pruning
Pruning is not generally required for Early Crocus since they are small, bulbous plants that naturally die back after flowering. However, it is important to leave the foliage intact until it turns yellow and dies down on its own, as this allows the plant to store energy for the next blooming season. If necessary, tidy up by removing any dead or diseased foliage in the spring after blooming.
Cleaning
Not needed
Soil
The Early Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple') thrives in well-draining soil with a mixture of loam, sand, and compost. It prefers a slightly alkaline to neutral pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Amend the soil with organic matter to improve fertility and drainage for optimal growth.
Repotting
Early Crocus generally does not need frequent repotting as they are perennial and can be left undisturbed for several years. They are typically repotted only when the corms become overcrowded, usually every 4 to 5 years.
Humidity & Misting
Early Crocus are not highly dependent on atmospheric humidity and can tolerate the humidity levels typically found in temperate climates. They can thrive in average garden conditions without the need for additional humidity adjustments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Plant in bright light, cool spot, water sparingly.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA
Life cycle
Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple', commonly known as the Early Crocus, begins its life cycle as a corm, a bulb-like storage organ. In autumn, the corm sends up leaves and sometimes flowers, though blooming typically occurs in early spring, showcasing distinctive purple flowers. After flowering, the foliage continues to photosynthesize, allowing the plant to store energy back into the corm for the next season. As the weather warms, the leaves yellow and die back, marking the plant's entrance into dormancy during the summer months. Throughout dormancy, the corm remains underground, and it may also produce smaller cormlets that can be used to propagate new plants. The cycle starts anew when cooler temperatures and seasonal cues trigger the corm to break dormancy and resume growth for the coming year.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Early autumn
- Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple', commonly known as Woodland Crocus, is typically propagated through division of its corms. The best time for this is after the foliage has died back, usually in late summer. To propagate, carefully dig up the corms, gently separate any that are naturally coming apart, and replant them immediately. Each corm should be planted around 3 to 4 inches deep (approximately 7.5 to 10 centimeters) and spaced about 3 inches apart (approximately 7.5 centimeters). This ensures that the corms have enough space to develop and will not be overcrowded, which could hinder their growth or flowering potential in the coming season.