Species Crocus, Corsican Crocus

Although its native habitat is at low altitudes in Corsica the Corsican Crocus has survived in our St John's, Newfoundland (Can zone 5b) ...Read Moregarden since 1979, with occasional lifting and replanting to keep the soil quality up. The mix is sandy and the site exposed and well drained. It's definitely a rock garden crocus, not one for the border or lawn.

One of our delights in early spring (mid-April) is to see the striped buds poking up like a bunch of snake's heads. In a few days the flowers will open up in the sun showing the wonderful contrast of purples and lilacs in the tepals and orange and yellow in the styles and anthers. They go on flowering for longer than most spring crocus species here.