Common crocus is a genus in the Iridaceae (iris) family, comprising about 90 species of deciduous, perennial, early spring-blooming corms. They are native to the Mediterranean and eastern Europe to northwest China. Crocus is the middle English word for “saffron plant,” as saffron comes from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus . Crocus need full sun to partial shade and gritty, well-drained soils; sandy loam with composted organic matter is best. Avoid heavy clay. They tolerate drought, but keep them moist during the growing season. Keep the foliage intact for about six weeks after the plants bloom, as the leaves are generating food for next year's floral production. Propagation is by division, which is recommended every four years. The flowers bloom in early spring, typically closing at night or on cloudy days and opening up with the morning sun, with many hybrids available. To plant from corms, plant in the fall about 2.5 inches deep and 2 inches apart, 35 to 70 corms per square foot. The diminutive crocus, less than 6 inches tall and wide at maturity, are often planted in mass in lawns, borders, naturalized areas, along pathways and in rock and woodland gardens. The corms can be cooked as a vegetable. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Crocus are damaged by rodents. Squirrels seem particularly adept at locating, digging up, and eating newly planted corms. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for plant identification courses offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Sheath
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Linear with a distinctive pale silver-white central stripe, < 1/4" wide.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Bell; Cup; Star; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blooms in early spring (February/March). Flowers are white to purple or striped, salverform-campanulate, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Narrow, perianth tube emerges from a sheath, expanding to 6 lobes in 2 overlapping whorls; lobes obtuse; styles 3-lobed, yellow-orange, widened and fimbriate at tips.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, to North West China