Crocus olivieri subsp. balansae 'Orange Monarch' is a most striking little flower bulb boasting golden-orange, goblet-shaped flowers suffused with rich mahogany feathering on the outer three petals. The glossy exterior of the tepals contrasts nicely with the brilliant orange yellow interior and bright threads of golden anthers. The cheerful blossoms are borne atop the foliage of long, narrow, dark green leaves, each adorned with a fine, central, silver stripe.

• Blooming occurs in early spring. The calyx-shaped flowers open only when the sun shines or when there is a lot of light; they close up in rainy weather and at night. 
• Growing up to 3-4 inches tall (7-10 cm), this beauty naturalizes easily and will come back year after year!
• Easily grown in gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Protect from excessive winter wet.
• Stunning in beds and borders, in city gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, containers or on banks and slopes. Spectacular in large sweeping drifts. For optimal effect, 100 to 150 corms should be planted. If used in lawns, however, the grass may not be mowed until six weeks after the crocuses have bloomed. If mowed earlier than this, the newly forming cormlets (developing on top of the mother corm) will not become large enough to flower next year.
• To be planted in fall.
• Propagate by division of established clumps or by separating cormlets when dormant.
• Remove leaves only after they have completely died down.
• Crocus olivieri subsp. balansae is native to West Turkey.

Very few early-flowering bulbous, tuberous and cormous plants are so massively planted as the Crocus. Together with tulips, hyacinths and narcissi, these plants are the most commonly found 'bulb' plants in gardens and parks. More than 100 species are known, but only thirty have been cultivated. Some crocuses flower in the fall, but these are fairly rare. Crocuses are lovely in lawns as well as in the perennial border where they join the other very early perennials in ringing in the flowering season.