Autumn Crocus Crocus pulchellus

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocus pulchellus, commonly known as the pretty crocus, is known for its ornamental charm during the flowering period. The pretty crocus displays slender, grass-like leaves that are often accompanied by a central silver stripe, offering a delicate textural contrast to the rest of the garden foliage. The flowers of this plant are particularly striking, usually emerging in autumn. Each flower appears on a slender, tube-like stalk and is characterized by its shape, which resembles a cup or sometimes a star when fully opened. The petals boast an exquisite soft lilac to light purple hue with a delicate and sometimes richer purple veining throughout, which adds depth and a subtle pattern to the display. The throat of the flower, which is the inner part of the bloom, often shows a lighter color or yellow to white shades, and features a bright pop of color with the presence of striking orange stigmas in the center. These stigmas contrast beautifully with the petals' color and serve as a focal point for pollinators such as bees. As the pretty crocus blooms, the flowers typically open up fully under the warmth of the sunny spells and tend to close in the evening or during wet weather. This rhythmic opening and closing add a dynamic aspect to their presence in the garden. The flowers' delicate appearance and autumn blooming period make the pretty crocus a highly sought-after plant for gardeners who wish to extend the color and vivacity of their gardens beyond the summer months.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Pretty Crocus, Eastern Crocus
- Common names
  Crocus pulchellus
Toxicity
- To humans
  Crocus pulchellus, commonly known as just Crocus, is not typically considered toxic to humans. This plant does not contain any well-documented toxic compounds that would cause harm when ingested. Therefore, accidental consumption should not lead to any severe symptoms of poisoning or long-term health consequences in humans. However, it is generally advisable to avoid eating ornamental plants as they are not intended for human consumption.
- To pets
  Crocus pulchellus, known simply as Crocus, is also not usually considered toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. Similar to its effects on humans, there is no significant evidence to suggest that Crocus contains toxic substances that would pose a risk to pets if ingested. As a result, consumption of this plant should not lead to serious symptoms of poisoning or adverse health effects in pets. Nonetheless, keeping a watchful eye on pets and preventing them from ingesting garden plants is wise, as individual animals could have sensitivities or allergies.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Lilac
- Height
  3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm)
- Spread
  1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Balkans

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers of Crocus pulchellus provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects in early spring.
- Early Blooming: This crocus species is one of the early bloomers, bringing color to gardens when most other plants are still dormant.
- Low Maintenance: Crocus pulchellus requires minimal care once established, making it an ideal choice for beginner gardeners or low-maintenance landscapes.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant, which is beneficial in arid climates or during water restrictions.
- Adaptability: They can adapt to a variety of soil types as long as they have good drainage.
- Naturalizing: Crocus pulchellus has the ability to naturalize, spreading and creating larger displays over the years.
- Decorative Uses: The vibrant blossoms of the crocus can be used in decorative displays, both in gardens and as cut flowers for indoor arrangements.
- Edging and Borders: Due to their compact size and early flowering, they are perfect for creating edges and borders in garden design.
- Container Gardening: They are well-suited to container gardening, allowing for spring color on patios and balconies.
- Ecological: By planting Crocus pulchellus, gardeners support the local ecosystem, especially early-spring pollinators seeking resources after winter.
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 pulchellus, commonly known as beautiful crocus, can be used as a natural dye; the flowers and stigmas may yield varying shades of yellow and green on textiles.
- The corms of beautiful crocus plants can be ground into a flour-like substance and used as a food thickener or mixed with cereal flours in baking.
- Beautiful crocus flowers can be pressed and included in botanical art and for decorating pressed flower crafts, such as handmade cards or bookmarks.
- The petals of the beautiful crocus can be used in potpourri mixtures to add color and a mild fragrance to a room.
- In horticulture, the beautiful crocus can be used as a "lawn crocus", planted in a grassy area where it blooms early before the grass needs to be cut.
- Beautiful crocus can be cultivated to add aesthetic value to roof gardens, where their low height and early flowering are advantageous.
- The stems of beautiful crocus can be woven into tiny, decorative wreaths for dolls and small figurines, celebrating the onset of spring.
- When dried, the petals of the beautiful crocus can be used to create natural confetti for weddings or festive events in the spring.
- Beautiful crocus blooms can be used as natural indicators of seasonal change in educational settings, teaching children about plant life cycles and phenology.
- Photographers and artists may use the striking appearance of beautiful crocus flowers as subjects in their work, capturing the essence of spring and natural beauty in their pieces.

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 pulchellus, known commonly as the crocus, often blooms in the spring, symbolizing hope and the promise of new beginnings.
- Youthfulness: The vibrant colors and early blooming of crocuses represent youth and glee.
- Cheerfulness: Crocuses often bring cheer with their bright colors piercing through the snow or early spring ground, symbolizing joy and happiness.
- Rejuvenation: As one of the first flowers to emerge after winter, crocuses represent rejuvenation and the awakening of nature.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Autumn

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Early Crocus, or Crocus pulchellus, has moderate watering needs. It is best watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which generally means watering once a week, depending on climate conditions. The amount of water should allow the soil to become evenly moist but not soggy, which typically equates to about a cup (8 ounces) of water for small pots or up to 2-3 gallons for larger garden areas in a single watering session. During rainy spells, reduce watering to prevent waterlogging, and during dry spells, you may need to water twice a week to maintain soil moisture. Do not allow the bulbs to sit in waterlogged soil as this can cause bulb rot.
Light
Early Crocus thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. It prefers a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight but can tolerate some light afternoon shade. Avoid heavily shaded areas as lack of adequate light can lead to poor flowering.
Temperature
Early Crocus can survive winter temperatures down to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit and can endure the summer heat up to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal temperature range for active growth and blooming is between 35 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the bulbs are planted in well-drained soil to prevent freezing and rot during cold temperatures.
Pruning
Pruning is not generally required for Early Crocus as they are low-maintenance plants that die back naturally after blooming. However, you can remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation and tidy the plant. Leave the foliage intact until it has died back naturally to allow the bulbs to store energy for the next season. Pruning, in this case, is more about cleaning up than shaping.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
For Woodland Crocus, the best soil mix is a well-draining, sandy or loamy substrate with added organic matter. The preferred pH range is neutral to slightly alkaline, between 6.0 and 7.5. A mixture incorporating one part sand, one part compost, and one part garden soil typically works well, mimicking the plant's natural growing conditions.
Repotting
Woodland Crocus corms should be lifted and divided every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and maintain vigor. Repot them in the late summer when they are dormant, a few weeks before they would naturally start to grow.
Humidity & Misting
Woodland Crocus requires moderate humidity levels. While specific humidity percentages are not strictly required, ensuring that the atmosphere is not too arid will contribute to their overall health, especially when grown in indoor environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Plant Woodland Crocus in a bright spot with well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant Woodland Crocus bulbs in well-draining soil in partial shade.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA
Life cycle
Crocus pulchellus, commonly known as the pretty crocus, begins its life cycle as a corm, which is a type of bulb-like storage organ. After a period of dormancy, typically in the late summer or early fall, the corm sprouts and produces narrow, grass-like leaves and a flowering stalk, featuring pale lilac to deep purple flowers. Following pollination, which is often facilitated by bees in search of nectar, the plant sets seed in a capsule that eventually dries, splits, and releases the seeds into the environment. The leaves of the plant engage in photosynthesis and store energy back into the corm for the next growth cycle. As the temperatures rise in late spring, the foliage dies back, and the corm enters another dormant phase to survive the hot, dry summer months. This cycle repeats annually, with the corm producing new plants or dividing to form clumps of pretty crocuses over the years.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Autumn
- The most popular method of propagation for Crocus pulchellus, commonly known as the beautiful crocus, is through corm division. This is typically done in the late summer after the foliage has died back and the corms have had a chance to store energy. Gardeners should carefully dig up the corms and gently separate them, making sure that each division has at least one growth point. It's important to plant the corms immediately at a depth of around 3 to 4 inches (about 7.5 to 10 centimeters) to ensure they reestablish themselves quickly and are ready for the next growing season. They should be placed in well-drained soil, preferably in a spot that receives full sun to partial shade. Properly divided and planted, the corms will develop into new plants which will bloom the following spring.