Information about Snow Crocus

INFORMATION ABOUT SNOW CROCUS...

No early spring garden is complete without a display of snow crocus flowers included in the design. Snow crocuses are usually one of the first of the spring flowers to show their pretty faces after a long cold winter. In cold climates they are known to pop up in snow-covered gardens, giving all who see them the heads up that spring is finally on its way.

Snow crocus flowers are members of the Iridaceae family which is most commonly known as the iris family of flowers. They are native to the country of Greece. Thier scientific name is Crocus Chrysanthus

These small flowers, usually only growing three to four inches tall, pack a big punch in the early spring landscape with their bright yellow, white, or lavender-blue urn-shaped blossoms and spiky green leaves. The snow crocus flower has six oval petals that grow from the stem in an upward direction. Although their flowers are much smaller than their cousins, the Giant Dutch crocus, snow crocuses produce more flowers per corm (bulb) and show themselves about two weeks sooner making them a very desirable addition to the early spring garden.

They are cold hardy in zones 4 through 8 of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and are extremely disease and insect resistant. Be aware that squirrels love to munch on them though so be sure to keep an eye out for them. A top layer of mulch can help to hide your precious snow crocus corms from these predators.

Snow Crocuses grow from a bulb-like corm, which is actually a stem. The original corm will produce new corms during the growing season and then die off. These new corms can be dug up and replanted in each following year assuring you of always having more and more beautiful snow crocuses in the years to come. Be sure to keep track of your colors when transplanting the corms if you have a particular design in mind.

Plant snow crocus corms (bulbs) in the fall for a spring bloom. Choose a sunny or lightly shaded location that won't get too muddy over winter. Loosen the soil in the area you've chosen and mix in some humus and bulb fertilizer. Plant your corms with 2 inches of rich soil over their heads. A bit of overcrowding won't harm them but be careful not to plant your snow crocus corms too close together as they will multiply quickly within a couple of years.

Snow crocuses look wonderful planted singly or in mass plantings, under trees, as borders for rock gardens and flower beds, and can even be used to paint designs, pictures or words in your garden or throughout your lawn. Their pretty blooms and leaves are usually long gone before the first mowing of the season is necessary. Mixed colors of snow crocus flowers creates a lovely mosaic picture on a snow-covered landscape. Snow crocus corms can also be easily forced to bloom indoors for use as a houseplant, if desired.