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.
banaticus An autumnal treasure for a woodland setting. Very large iris-like blooms in pale mauve
or lilac with feathery white or lilac styles. Rarely offered FS/1st $ 7.00
biflorus ssp alexandrii "Eye Catcher" Dramatic spring-flowering plant bearing large, snow-white
blooms clasped by dark violet-purple outer petals each edged with a thin ribbon of white.
FS/1st $3.00 or 3 for $8.00
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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 |
biflo
rus 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
chrysanthus "Ard Shenk" Large, snow-white blooms with a soft yellow throat in late winter.
Vigorous and free-flowering form excellent when naturalised in lawn or alternatively grown in a pan
to be admired up close. $2.50 or 3 for $7.00
chrysanthus "E. A. Bowles" Raised by Thomas Hoog and named for his friend and rival Edward
Augustus Bowles who described it as,"soft a yellow as a pat of butter and with a feathering patch
of warm, brown madder at the base of each segment". FS/1st $2.50 or 3 for $7.00
chrysanthus "Fuscotinctus" Another dramatically striped bloomer with Naples-yellow outer
petals feathered in violet-brown. Profusion of flowers in spring spreading like a golden carpet.
FS $2.50 or 3 for $7.00
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chrysanthus "Gypsy Girl" Romantic name for this striking, large-flowered form. The contrast
between the glowing golden petals and darkly etched marks on the reverse of the petals is nothing
less than dramatic. FS/1st $2.50 or 3 for $7.00 |
chrysanthus "Zwanenburg Bronze" Rich, warm hues of gold and bronze combine subtly in this
old cultivar and when the sun shines its flowers open wide, transformed into a series of glowing,
gamboge-yellow discs. FS/1st $2.50 or 3 for $7.00
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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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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 |
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goulimyi "Mani White" The supremely impressive albino version bearing a profusion of glistening
white flowers almost as large as Colchicum autumnale over a long period. Strong, impressive and
easy-going plant. FS/1st $4.00 or 3 for $10.00 |
hadriaticus Lovely autumn flowering species from Greece. Large, goblet-shaped creamy white
blooms with yellow throat and a striking scarlet stigma. Some very rare lilac forms in this
collection. FS/1st $4.00 or 3 for $10.00
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imperatii ssp imperatii Inconspicuous buds open to reveal one of the most dramatic spring flowering
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 |
kosaninii Superb spring species from Kosovo which is both cold and moisture tolerant and proving
ideal for the garden. Bears clusters of bright mineral violet flowers feathered dark purple on the
outside and with a yellow throat. FS/1st $6.00
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 or 3 for $5.00
kotschyanus albus Starts very pale lilac in bud and rapidly changes to a pearly white at maturity.
A lovely variation on the above with the same robust habit. FS/1st $4.00
laevigatus Variable autumn to winter flowers in white or lilac, feathered and stippled darkly on the
outside. Lovely, easy-going species for the rock garden or pots. FS $3.00
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longiflorus With its rich, sweet honey scent, large, darkly veined lilac-purple flowers and brilliant
orange-red, lolling stigma this is one of the best autumn species. FS $2.00 or 3 for $5.00 |
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malyi Robust and very attractive species from Croatia. Masses of very large, pure white flowers
with contrasting yellow throats in late spring. Rare item FS/1st $ 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 |
nudiflorus Splendid species from Spain and SW France bearing very large, rich purple flowers
before leaves in autumn. Easy, spreading gently by stolons FS $ 5.00
ochroleucus large form A wonderful strain from Tel Aviv Botanic Gardens. Very large bonewhite
flowers with a yellow throat produced in profusion in late autumn. Greatly superior to the
commercial form normally available in Australia. FS/1st $4.00
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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 |
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pestalozzae var caerula This species from NW Turkey occurs in both blue and white. This is a
strong-coloured blue flowered form of this dainty species with a succession of elegant gobletshaped
blooms 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.
Excellent in the garden where it will readily naturalize to create drifts of sweetly scented blossoms
from March to May. FS/1st $2.00 or 3 for $5.00
pulchellus albus Robust, snow white flowers with a yellow throat. Easy as the above but as rare
as dragon's teeth. An exclusive offering not to be missed. FS/1st $7.00
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salzmanii "Winterwood White" A glistening white version of this normally pale lilac Spanish
species. A succession of very large autumn flowers and robust growth make this plant a "must
have" for the rock garden. Rare offering FS/1st $5.00 |
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sieberi ssp nivalis Fine rock garden plant for mid-winter bearing a succession of large, cupshaped
blooms, that open flat to the sun, in shades of light blue to nearly purple with a contrasting
yellow throat. FS $4.00 or 3 for $10 |
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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 |
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sieberi ssp sublimis forma tricolor Bowles once described its flowers as looking as "a richly
purple egg ... resting in a golden cup tied with a white napkin". A profusion of late winter flowers in
a delicious confection of deep purple petals and deep-yellow throats, surrounded by a broad white
band. FS $2.50 or 3 for $7.00 |
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tommasinianus "Pictus"Large, eye-catching,mauve flowers, tipped in dark purple with a blotch
of snow white at the extreme. One of the very best selections made by the great man, E A Bowles,
at Myddleton House in Somerset. FS/1st $6.00 |
tommasinianus "Roseus" Another of 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
tommasianus "Ruby Giant" Larger-flowered, more richly coloured selection in solid reddishpurple.
A succession of rounded chalices increasing well, to make bold patches of colour
throughout spring. FS $3.00 or 3 for
$8.00
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tournefortii Superb Grecian species, similar to C. boryi, but its autumn flowers are deeply veined
in violet and flatten dish-like in the sun. Very easy in Australian conditions and will rapidly build into
showy clumps. FS $3.00 or 3 for $8.00 |
vernus "Vanguard" Very large spring flowers with an outer silvery wash lightly splashed in mauve
and with deeper, pure purple inner petals. Excellent for naturalizing in grass, spreading rapidly into
pools of cool colour. FS/1st $3.00 or 3 for $8.00 |
SPECIAL OFFER
Crocus tommasinianus for naturalizing in lawn or woodlands - $25.00 for 50
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