Celebrated for more than 2000 years, Crocus sativus or Saffron Crocus has been cultivated for its invaluable red stamens, the source of culinary saffron. This fall-blooming Crocus features large, lilac-purple blooms adorned with darker veins and yellow stamens and more importantly, three vivid red stigmas that extend over the petals. Precious, these three stigmas are the real saffron and said to be the most expensive spice in the world. It takes about 40,000 flowers to make one pound of sellable Saffron! Fortunately, it doesn't take much of true Saffron to spice up your dishes!

Blooming well before the fat Dutch Crocus (Crocus vernus), Crocus chrysanthus (Snow Crocus) pokes through the bare earth or snow to cheer gardeners and capture their heart. Native from Greece to Bulgaria and Turkey, this crocus produces smaller flowers than those of the familiar 'Dutch crocuses' but in greater numbers.

Vigorous, Crocus sieberi is a late winter-flowering crocus producing its charming flowers as the snow melts. Regarded by some as one of the most attractive crocuses, it is very hardy and ridiculously easy to grow, making long-lived clumps. Easily established, this crocus increases nicely over time, providing attractive splashes of color, like scattered gemstones sparkling on the ground!

Among the earliest to flower, this species has elegant blossoms of pale lavender to red-purple with a silvery reverse. The profuse flowering and spontaneous self-propagation make this crocus a very good choice for naturalizing. Blooming from late winter to early spring, the calyx-shaped flowers open when the sun shines or when there is a lot of light; they close up in rainy weather and at night.

One of the most popular species, Crocus vernus is an early spring blooming bulb that is widely grown in gardens or used for winter forcing.