Crocus kotschyanus (Autumn Crocus)

Crocus kotschyanus (Kotschy’s Crocus) is a lovely fall-blooming Crocus with long-tubed, pinkish-lilac or purplish-blue flowers with yellow throats and white anthers. The semi-erect, grassy, green leaves, each with a white line along the center, develop in late winter. Plant among a very low-growing groundcover for show, in front of shrubs, around trees, and in rock gardens.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Growing up to 4-6 inches tall (10-15 cm), this beauty naturalizes easily. It will come back year after year and multiply to create large colonies.
• Easily grown in gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers to be on the dry side during dormancy.
• Perfect in beds and borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, or containers.
• To be planted in mid to late summer. Plant bulbs in drifts 2 in. deep (5 cm). Where bulbs are planted in the grass, do not cut the lawn until after the leaves have died back.
• Propagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame when ripe, or remove cormlets when dormant.
• Crocus kotschyanus is found from Turkey to the Caucasus and Lebanon.