CROCUS
A delightful and very decorative addition to the rock garden or keep them as pets in pots! These are such an under-rated bulb in this country, flowering, depending on the species, from late summer to spring and most increase well from offsets or seed. They like lots of lime in gritty soil and most adore the sun.
asturicus A very robust and reliable autumn flowering species, lovely dark purple flowers with
strikingly orange-red style. Found in the Asturias region of Spain and is proven performer in
Australian gardens. FS/1st $3.00
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biflorus ssp ? biflorus Collected by us on the Greek island of Rhodos, close to the Turkish
mainland. This is the most easterly occurring population and many individuals appear more
akin to ssp. nubigeus. Richly striped in chestnut-brown striped on a yellowish ground, with black
anthers. Spring FS/1st $4.00 |
biflorus ssp melantherus Rare addition to the biflorus complex and distinct in being one of
only the two autumn flowering species. Large, white, cupped, flowers, striped or speckled purplebrown
with a yellow throat and striking black anthers. FS/1st $3.00
boryi Large, creamy-white goblets with long, feathery, orange styles in autumn. A very beautiful
and widespread species in Greece and so well suited to our garden conditions. FS/1st $4.00
cancellatus ssp mazziaricus Rare offering of this large autumn flowering species from Greece
and Turkey. Darkly veined goblets of white or lilac with a distinctly yellow throat. Repays a hot, dry
summer rest. FS/1st $4.00
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etruscus A vigorous spring flowerer that does well in the garden forming large, generously flowering clumps. Plants will show variation in flower colour from plain lilac to violet with some striping on the exterior petals. FS $3.00 or 3 for $8.00 |
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gargaricus ssp herbertii Known only from Ulu Dag, the Turkish Mount Olympus, it bears
surprisingly large orange-yellow flowers in spring making a lovely rich pool of colour in moist
garden conditions. FS/1st $4.00
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goulimyi A first class garden crocus bearing elegant lavender flowers on long tubes in autumn.
Prolific grower when conditions suit. If pot grown, keep cool but dryish in dormancy. A great
subject for naturalizing. FS $2.20 or 3 for $6.00 |
hadriaticus var. parnassicus Rare form which bears the same large pure white flowers with
striking scarlet styles but without the yellow throat. Found only on the lower slopes of Mt. Parnassos
near Delphi. FS/1st $4.00
imperatii ssp imperatii Inconspicuous buds open to reveal one of the most dramatic springflowering
crocus. Outer petals are buff with various degrees of striping and the inner ones are a
sumptuously rich purple. Large flowered, garden-proven species from Italy. FS/1st $4.00
korolkowii Central Asian species of great garden merit. Strong spring flowers of brilliant
evarnished' yellow variously striped or stippled metallic purple and brown on the exterior. Creme
de la Creme! FS $4.00
kotschyanus ssp kotschyanus Very large, autumnal flowers of pale mauve with a yellow throat
on long tubes. This is a reliable and easy grower that quickly builds large colonies in the garden.
Flowers as big as teacups! FS $2.00
laevigatus Variable autumn to winter flowers in white to lilac, feathered and stippled darkly on
their outside petals. Lovely and easy growing for a warm summer-dry pocket in the rock garden.
FS/1st $3.00 or 3 for $8.00
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longiflorus One of the most beautiful of all the autumn flowerers and very easy in the garden.
Bears wonderfully honey-scented, lilac-purple blooms with darker veining with a brilliant orangered,
lolling style. FS $2.00 or 3 for $5.00 |
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niveus Magnificent autumnal crocus found only from the Mani Peninsula of the Peleponnese and
a truly superb garden plant. Most of these will bear huge goblets of glistening white with showy
orange/scarlet stigmas. FS/1st $2.50 or 3 for $7.00 |
niveus lilac form This is the best lilac form arising from a collection made in the Mani Peninsula
in Greece many years ago by Brian Mathew (BM 8066A). Very vigorous and free flowering and in
some years many of the flowers are semi- double. Very choice and loves it dry.
FS/1st $2.50 or 3 for $7.00
ochroleucus "Valerie Finnis" Brian Mathew mentions it in his splendid monograph, The Crocus,
this is the pure white form of the species. It bears large flowers without the yellow throat in late
autumn. With such an epithet this surely a piece of gardening history! FS/1st $3.00
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olivieri ssp olivieri No genus does yellow better than crocus and this is one of the best. Widespread
across the Balkans to western Turkey this spring-flowerer bears the brightest orange-yellow flowers
of all. FS/1st $4.00 |
oreocreticus Rare species only known from the mountains of Crete. Our own seed collections on
Mt. Idi have produced mid-lilac to purple autumn flowers, darkly veined on silvery to buff exteriors
with scarlet styles. FS/1st $ 5.00
pallasii ssp pallasii From near Honaz Dag in western Turkey this is the best form we have ever
offered. Large, dark autumn flowers strikingly patterned in deep mauve and lilac with feathery
scarlet stigma. FS/1st $4.00
pestalozzae var caerula Confined to cool NW Turkey this species occurs in both blue and white.
This is a strong-coloured blue form of this dainty little species with a succession of small, neatly
rounded blue-violet flowers with yellow throats in early spring. FS/1st $4.00
pulchellus Large, solid lavender-blue flowers with deep yellow throats before the leaves in autumn.
A wonderful performer in the garden where it will readily naturalize, creating drifts of dainty, sweetly
scented blossoms throughout the cooler days of March and April. FS $2.00 or 3 for $5.00
pulchellus albus Robust, pure white flowering form with a yellow throat. Just as easy as the type
but as rare as "dragon's teeth". A rare offering and not to be missed out on. FS/1st $7.00
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sieberi ssp atticus From the type locality at Pendelikon near Athens, where the Ancients quarried the stone for the Parthenon. This is a fine garden plant, bearing a succession of very large, pale to deep lilac flowers throughout winter. FS $3.00 or 3 for $5.00 |
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sieberi ssp sieberi Rarely offered type species which is endemic to Crete. Spring flowers of showy white stained on the outside with purple brush-marks and yellow throat. An exquisitely delicate combination. FS /1st $5.00 |
speciosus Best of the autumnal group with its huge, Intricately striped, mauve flowers and finely
divided deep orange stigma. An absolute must, colonizes well and thrives on neglect. Wild
vigorous collection of seed from Lake Abant, Turkey.
FS $3.00 or 5 variable sized corms for $7.00
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speciosus "Oxonian" The darkest and largest selection of this species made by Barr & Son
around the turn of last century. Flowers deep lilac blue with prominent veining measuring up to
10cm across. FS/1st $5.00 |
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tommasinianus "Roseus" Another of E. A. Bowles' selections and without doubt the "pinkest"
crocus currently on offer. Bright cyclamen pink with the exterior of the petals silvery-grey makes it
a delightful combination. FS $4.00 |
tommasinianus "Whitewell Purple" Very good dark purple selection which like all its brethren is
easy in the garden and quick to increase. FS/1st $4.00
tournefortii Another lovely Grecian bulb very similar to C. boryi but its flowers are deeply veined in
violet, have a lolling feathery stigma and flatten dish-like in the sun. Superb species for Australian
gardens FS/1st $4.00
tommasinanus x vernus "Vanguard" Very large lilac flowers with silvery wash on the exterior
faintly lined in mauve. Superb variety producing an abundance of blooms in early spring.
FS/1st $3.00 or 3 for $8.00
tommasinianus x vernus "Yalta" A magnificent crocus raised by Janis Ruksans of Latvia. Huge
mauve spring blooms with light silvery-blue outer petals and purple stained tube. Seriously
special! FS/1st $6.00
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SPECIAL OFFER
Crocus tommasinianus for naturalizing in lawn or woodlands -$25.00 for 50
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