Goulimy's Crocus Crocus goulimyi

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Crocus goulimyi, commonly known as the Goulimy's Crocus, is a flowering plant that features a remarkable aesthetic during its bloom. Its flowers present themselves in a vivid and striking lilac or violet hue, often showcasing a lighter or white throat, which adds to the visual contrast and allure of the blooms. The petals, usually numbering six, are elongated and form a cup-like shape, which is characteristic of many flowers within its broader family. The Goulimy's Crocus has a delicate structure, with slender and grass-like leaves that sometimes feature a silvery mid-vein, adding an additional layer of subtle beauty to its overall appearance. The leaves often appear at the same time as the flowers, creating an interplay of color and shapes that provide a fresh and lively look. This plant's flowers emerge from corms, which are specialized storage structures that lie beneath the surface of the soil. These corms allow the plant to survive through periods that are not conducive to growth. The blooms mark the end of dormancy and the arrival of the flowering season, making the Goulimy's Crocus a herald of the change in seasons. During its flowering period, the Goulimy's Crocus can become the center of attention in any garden or natural setting, capturing the gazes of passersby with its enchanting colors and delicate floral display. The plant's overall charm is further reinforced during sunny days when the flowers fully open up to reveal their full splendor and occasionally close partially during overcast conditions or at night. The Goulimy's Crocus does not only appeal to human admirers; it also plays a role in the ecosystem as a source of nectar and pollen for early-season pollinators. The arrival of its flowers serves as an important resource for these creatures at a time when few other plants may be in bloom.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Grecian Crocus, Mani Crocus
- Common names
  Crocus goulimyi.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Crocus goulimyi, commonly known as the Goulimy's Crocus, has no well-documented cases of toxicity to humans. While many crocus species are not considered highly toxic, they are also not known to be edible and, like many plants, it is advisable not to ingest parts of this plant. If you believe you have ingested Goulimy's Crocus and are experiencing adverse symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice.
- To pets
  Goulimy's Crocus, similar to its toxicity profile in humans, does not have specific reports of toxicity to pets. However, as it is not classified as an edible plant, ingestion by pets should be avoided. If a pet ingests parts of the Goulimy's Crocus, monitoring for any signs of gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions is advisable, and consulting with a veterinarian may be necessary if any adverse symptoms develop.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Lilac
- Height
  4 inches (10 cm)
- Spread
  3 inches (8 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Greece

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Crocus goulimyi, also known as Grecian crocus, adds vibrant color to gardens and landscapes with its striking purple or violet flowers that bloom in autumn.
- Pollinator Attraction: The plant is valuable for attracting bees and other pollinators, supporting biodiversity and the local ecosystem.
- Early Bloomer: Grecian crocus is amongst the first flowers to bloom in the season, providing early spring blossoms even when other plants have not yet emerged from dormancy.
- Low Maintenance: These crocuses typically require minimal care and are well-suited to rock gardens, borders, or naturalized in grass, making them ideal for low-maintenance landscapes.
- Cold Tolerance: They can survive in cold climates, making them suitable for growth in a variety of geographic locations.
- Naturalizing: Crocus goulimyi has the ability to spread and naturalize over time, creating larger displays of color with each passing year.
- Compact Size: Their small size makes them perfect for planting in containers, patios, or small garden spaces, where they can add a splash of color without overpowering the area.
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
- Crocus goulimyi flowers can be used as a natural dye for textiles and art projects, providing delicate shades of purple and yellow depending on the parts of the plant used.
- The corms of Crocus goulimyi can be used as a starch source in cooking, though this is not a common practice and care must be taken to ensure the corms are safe for consumption.
- Aromatic oils could potentially be extracted from the Crocus goulimyi flowers for use in perfumery, offering a unique floral scent to fragrance formulas.
- The plant can serve as a teaching tool in botanical studies due to its specific growth requirements and characteristics, helping students learn about crocus species and their habitats.
- Crocus goulimyi can act as a symbol in gardens representing the arrival of spring and used in cultural or seasonal festivals that celebrate this change of season.
- In photography, the vibrant purple hues of Crocus goulimyi flowers provide an excellent subject matter for nature photographers seeking to capture the beauty of spring blooms.
- The vivid color of the flowers can inspire artists and designers, who might use the distinctive purple as part of a color palette for creative projects.
- Garden designers might use Crocus goulimyi to create a 'natural alarm clock,' with the blooming of the flowers signaling the optimal time for planting other species that require warmer soil temperatures.
- The flower can be used in crafts, such as pressed flower art, where the blooms can be preserved and arranged aesthetically on various mediums.
- Crocus goulimyi can be incorporated into educational programs about climate change and its effects on flowering times and plant species distribution.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Crocus is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Crocus is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Hope: Crocus goulimyi, commonly known as Grecian crocus, often blooms at the end of winter or start of spring, symbolizing hope and the promise of brighter days.
- Youthfulness: The Grecian crocus's delicate and youthful appearance embodies the spirit of youth and joy.
- Cheerfulness: With its bright and lively colors, the Grecian crocus is seen as a symbol of cheerfulness, bringing a splash of color to the grey days at the end of winter.
- Renewal: As one of the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter, the Grecian crocus is also a symbol of renewal and the cycle of life continuing.

💧

When soil dries out

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Autumn

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
The Grecian crocus prefers to be watered sparingly, as it is susceptible to waterlogging and bulb rot. In the growing season, water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry, which might be approximately once a week, using about an ounce of water per square inch of soil surface around the plant. During dormant periods, reduce watering to a bare minimum, allowing the soil to remain dry. It's crucial to maintain a balance; the Grecian crocus needs consistently moist but not soggy soil during its active growth period in early spring and fall.
Light
The Grecian crocus thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. An ideal spot would be one that receives morning sunlight and is protected from the intense heat of the afternoon sun. This ensures that the plant gets enough light without being exposed to potentially damaging extreme heat.
Temperature
The Grecian crocus can tolerate a range of temperatures but prefers cooler conditions. It can survive winter temperatures down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures up to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, this crocus does best when the daytime temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pruning
The Grecian crocus requires minimal pruning. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and maintain a tidy appearance. Prune away dead or yellowing leaves after they have completely died back, which typically occurs by late spring or early summer. This plant does not require regular cutting back; simply cleaning up dead plant material is sufficient.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Grecian Crocus (Crocus goulimyi) thrives best in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A mix of equal parts of loam, sand or perlite, and peat or compost is ideal. The pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 for optimal growth.
Repotting
The Grecian Crocus should be repotted once every 2 to 3 years. They are best repotted after they have finished blooming and have gone dormant, usually during the summer months when the corms are resting.
Humidity & Misting
The Grecian Crocus prefers moderate humidity levels. While specific humidity requirements are not strict, it generally thrives in typical outdoor humidity found in its native Mediterranean environment.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Grecian Crocus in a cool, bright spot with indirect light.
- Outdoor
  Plant Grecian Crocus in partial shade or full sun, in the ground or containers.
- Hardiness zone
  6-9 USDA
Life cycle
Crocus goulimyi, commonly known as Goulimy's crocus, begins its life cycle as a bulb, which remains dormant underground during the hot, dry summer months. In autumn, when the temperature cools and moisture increases, the bulb sends up shoots and blossoms, producing small, usually purple flowers. After pollination, often by bees, the plant sets seed, which eventually falls to the ground and may germinate to produce new plants. The leaves of Crocus goulimyi, narrow and grass-like, appear usually after flowering and persist through the winter, engaging in photosynthesis and storing energy in the bulb. As spring approaches and temperatures rise, the above-ground parts of the plant die back, and the bulb enters a period of dormancy again, conserving its resources until the next autumn. This perennial cycle repeats annually, with the plant spreading through both seed production and vegetative propagation via bulb offsets.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Autumn
- The most popular method of propagating Crocus goulimyi, also known as Goulimy's crocus, is through division of corms. This vegetative propagation approach should be done in the late summer, around August, after the corms have gone dormant following their spring flowering cycle. To propagate Goulimy's crocus, carefully unearth the mature corms and gently separate any small cormlets that have formed around the base. These cormlets, which are essentially miniaturized versions of the parent corm, can be replanted immediately. They should be placed at a depth of around 3 to 4 inches (about 7.5 to 10 centimeters) in well-draining soil and spaced approximately 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) apart. The new cormlets will then develop roots and foliage and generally flower in one to two years. It's important to ensure that the soil remains moist but not waterlogged to prevent rotting.