Growing guide

How to grow crocuses

Crocuses are corms with diminutive flowers in shades of yellow, purples and white. They brighten our gardens in early spring and autumn and have a wide range of uses. You can choose ones for container displays, carpeting under trees, studding lawns with colour or growing in an alpine house. Crocuses in general are hardy and enjoy sun and good drainage ... with a few exceptions!

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Quick facts

  • A genus of around 80 species of perennial corms that come up every year
  • Flowers are funnel shaped and a few inches tall, blooming mainly in spring, but some species flower in autumn
  • Colours range through white, yellow, lilacs and purples
  • Crocus generally prefer sunny and well-drained sites
  • They're happy on a range of soils including chalk
  • Different selections will grow in a wide choice of settings: containers, turf, under deciduous trees or in borders
  •  For species that need specialist cultivation a coldframe plunge bed or alpine house is required

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

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