Crocus

This is no ordinary crocus; Crocus sativus is the legendary Saffron Crocus, the source of the world's most expensive spice. Unlike its spring-flowering cousins, this variety blooms in the autumn, producing beautiful, lilac-purple flowers with darker purple veins. The true treasure, however, lies within. Each flower contains three long, vivid crimson-red stigmas, which are the saffron threads. These must be carefully hand-picked and dried to be used as a spice for flavouring and colouring food. The grass-like foliage appears before or with the flowers and remains through the winter. Growing your own saffron is a rewarding experience, connecting you to an ancient culinary tradition. While each bulb produces only a few threads, planting a generous drift can yield a precious and delicious harvest.

A vibrant and joyful collection, our Mixed Colours Crocus selection is the perfect way to banish the winter blues and welcome the first signs of spring. This carefully curated blend brings together a wide array of colours, from rich purples and sunny yellows to pure whites and soft mauves, often with beautiful bi-colour and striped varieties included. Planting this mix creates a stunning, jewel-like carpet of colour that looks effortlessly beautiful and natural. Because the mix contains different types of crocus, you can enjoy an extended flowering period, with different colours popping up over several weeks. They are perfect for naturalising in lawns, planting in bold drifts under trees and shrubs, or filling pots and window boxes with a cheerful and low-maintenance display. They are a true herald of spring, providing vital early nectar for brave bees venturing out on sunny days.

A truly regal and timeless beauty, 'Jeanne d'Arc' is one of the largest and most impressive of the spring-flowering crocuses. It stands out for its exceptionally large, goblet-shaped flowers of the purest, shimmering snow-white. Each pristine bloom has a classic, elegant form and is held on a strong stem, creating a bold statement in the garden. Upon closer inspection, a delicate, faint purple blush can be seen at the very base of the petals, adding a touch of sophisticated detail to its otherwise immaculate appearance. A vibrant orange stigma glows from the centre, attracting early pollinators. As a Dutch Crocus (Crocus vernus), it flowers slightly later than the botanical types, bridging the gap to early tulips. It is an outstanding choice for naturalising in lawns, where its large white flowers create a breathtaking display against the green grass.

An outstanding and aptly named variety, 'Ruby Giant' is a cultivar of Crocus tommasinianus and is celebrated for its larger-than-average flowers and rich, vibrant colouring. The blooms are a stunning shade of deep, iridescent reddish-purple or amethyst, which seems to glow in the low spring sunlight. The flowers open wide on sunny days to reveal a bright orange stigma at their heart. 'Ruby Giant' is one of the earliest crocuses to flower, often pushing through snow to provide a welcome splash of intense colour. It is exceptionally vigorous and an excellent naturaliser, quickly multiplying to form substantial, beautiful drifts. It is more resistant to squirrel damage than many other crocus types, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. Its slender, grass-like foliage appears with the flowers, creating a neat and attractive clump.

The absolute essence of spring sunshine, 'Golden Yellow' is a large-flowered Dutch Crocus that brings an explosion of pure, brilliant colour to the garden. The flowers are a rich, vibrant, egg-yolk yellow, completely saturated with colour and lacking any other markings. These large, chalice-shaped blooms act like beacons of light at the end of a long winter, glowing with an intensity that can be seen from a great distance. They are robust, vigorous, and reliable, opening wide on sunny days to reveal their golden stigmas and closing up at night or in poor weather. 'Golden Yellow' is perfect for creating bold, cheerful drifts of colour, for planting in blocks at the front of borders, or for filling pots with a dazzling display. Its classic, joyful colour makes it an essential component of any spring garden design, promising warmth and brighter days ahead.

An exquisite botanical crocus, 'Blue Pearl' is cherished for its delicate beauty and luminous, pearlescent colouring. The flowers are not a strong blue, but rather a magical, soft, silvery sky-blue on the outer petals, which are often shaded with a deeper blue at the base. As the flower opens, it reveals a contrasting creamy-white to soft-yellow interior, with a base that glows a distinct bronzy-yellow. This complex and subtle combination of colours gives the bloom an iridescent quality, especially when it catches the low morning or evening light, making it shimmer like a precious pearl. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, a testament to its beauty and reliability. 'Blue Pearl' is one of the earliest to flower, and its gentle, glowing presence is a truly enchanting sight after a long winter, perfect for intimate plantings in pots or rockeries.