Crocus Pages by Tony Goode
Species Crocus species

About the Crocus Pages

About Crocus Pages
The aim of this site is to provide information about the genus that will be of interest to both gardeners and Crocus aficionados. The core of the site is a large collection of digital images of Crocus plants, which will serve to illustrate botanical details and the variation exhibited by the species. This in turn may assist in identification of plants.

 
The image content of this website is built around a collection of Crocus plants grown by Tony Goode who gardens in Norwich UK. The plants are part of the Plant Heritage National Collections scheme which promotes the conservation of plants in cultivation. Several resources have been referred to in literature, most notably Brian Mathews' revision of the genus: 'The Crocus' (Batsford 1982 ISBN 0 7134 3390 6) now out of print but obtainable through specialist second hand book dealers. Other excellent reference works are listed below.
 
Bulbs.  Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix. Pan. ISBN 0-330-30253-1
 
The Smaller Bulbs.  Brian Mathew.  Batsford.  ISBN 0-7134-4922-5
 
Growing Bulbs.  Brian Mathew.  Batsford.  ISBN 0 7134 4920 9
 
Bulbs for the Rock Garden.  Jack Elliott.  ISBN 0 7134 7424 6
 
Growing Bulbs.  Martyn Rix.  Timber Press.  ISBN 0 7099 2248 5
 
The genus is mostly known for the Dutch hybrids and 'Species' crocus both of which make good garden plants flowering in the spring. The genus is much more variable than these plants would suggest. There are 79 species further divided into 127 taxa when subspecies are included. The flowering season extends from late summer (August in UK) through the winter until mid spring (March UK.) (Seasons vary from year to year and with latitude so these are only local guidelines.) 
 
All the images on this site are Copyright Tony Goode. If you would like to use them for any purpose, please contact me. (I have the original images which are larger files which show greater detail.)

 

Using Crocus Pages

The navigation has been designed to allow users to move around the site to explore the plants with links on each page to help you move between related species, while also being able to research botanical details if new or unfamiliar terms are encountered. The navigation will become more sophisticated as the site develops to its full potential over the coming months
 
  • Botany : This page links to a series of pages describing and illustrating the Crocus plant and all its features. There are many close up pictures to illustrate the botanical details of the Crocus.
  • Taxonomy : This page will explore the relationships between the 79 species.
  • Crocus Group : The Crocus Group is UK based informal society to enable Crocus aficionados around the world to keep in touch. This page includes details of how to join and the Group activities. Pictures of plants at Group events are displayed here.
  • A-Z : The A-Z page has a full list of the species with links to the individual pages. Using these will open each taxon in a separate window.   By resizing these windows the details of different taxa may be compared. (There is a direct link to each species page in the frame to the left of the page. These open in the main frame, replacing the current page.)

What's New on Crocus Pages
 

  • 30 October 2002 : Taxonomy page updated. New Photo Gallery added - this contains some images of plants recently in flower in the collection here. I hope to update it regularly throughout the season.
  • 10 October : Illustration for Crocus pallasii turcicus added. Cultivation notes added (below).
  • 4 October : Illustrations for the following taxa added: CC. biflorus albocoronatus; biflorus alexandrii; biflorus crewei, biflorus fibroannulatus; cancellatus damascenus; cancellatus pamphylicus; fleischeri; gargaricus herbertii; kerndorffiorum; kotschyanus suworowianus; leitchlinii; moabiticus; olivieri balansae; siehieanus, vitellinus.   Additional images added to pages for CC. adanensis; antalyensis; banaticus; cancellatus cancellatus; corsicus; cvijicii; etruscus; flavus flavus; imperati; minimus; niveus; olivieri olivieri; paschei; reticulatus hittiticus; veluchensis; vernus vernus; versicolor.
  • 29 September : Images for Crocus vallicola added and CC. carpetanus, kosaninii, michelsonii, sativus and speciosus all updated with additional images.
  • 21 February : Two pictures of Crocus pelistericus added
  • 31 January : Some larger (but quick download) pictures added. (Try Crocus danfordiae for an example of these superior pictures!)
  • 31 January : Articles from Crocus Group Newsletters added
  • 26 January : All 127 taxa now annotated
  • 26 January : Pictures of Crocus vernus albiflorus in the wild added
  • 24 January : Pictures of Crocus reticulatus hittiticus
  • 16 January : Pictures of Crocus nevadensis in flower added
  • All new layout - includes linking between related taxa
  • Botany Pages illustrate the different parts of the Crocus plant
  • Autumn flowering species now included. 102 taxa illustrated
  • More images of corms and tunics

 

Photo Gallery
Link to Photogallery

Cultivation of this Crocus Collection
 

I grow most of my crocuses in plastic pots, which are sited in cold frames. The cold frames have open sides throughout the year and glass covers, which are used for winter protection and to ensure a dry summer rest (for those species which need it). The compost used is roughly 50% John Innes II (a loam based commercially mixed compost), 40% coarse, sharp sand, (very gritty sand up to 5mm), 10% perlite, (improves aeration of the compost and holds water.) A small measure of bonemeal is added (high in phosphate which feeds growing corms).
 
Plastic pots are used for their space efficiency, more can be fitted into each frame than the round clay pots which I have used in the past. Clay pots are aesthetically more pleasing. 
 
A more generous watering regime is required with clay pots as the compost dries out more quickly than in plastic pots. A careful watch is kept for aphids which are afforded some protection by the dense foliage that develops after flowering. Systemic and contact insecticides are used when required.

 

About Us
 

  • This site is the work of Tony Goode. I live quietly in suburban Norwich. I work in the leisure industry, (a statement that may bring a wry smile to those in the know!) I reached my half century in 2011.  I am married with two daughters who are largely reponsible for my failure to update these pages between 2002 and 2011!
  • I grow many dwarf bulbs, mostly in pots, many raised from seed
  • I occasionally exhibit my plants at Alpine Garden Society shows
  • I write about my plant related experiences for the Alpine Garden Society Bulletin (and for anyone else who asks - especially if they want to pay me for doing so)
  • I give lectures, illustrated using digital presentation, about alpine plants and bulbs
 Other Interests
  • Meteorology
  • Steam Trains (especially the Talyllyn Railway in North Wales)
  • Digital photography
  • A Quiet Life!

 

Crocus Species
C. abantensis,
C. adanensis,
C. aerius,
C. alatavicus,
C. aleppicus,
C. almehensis,
C. ancyrensis,
C. angustifolius,
C. antalyensis,
C. asumaniae,
C. autranii,
C. banaticus,
C. baytopiorum,
C. biflorus adamii,
C. biflorus albocoronatus,
C. biflorus alexandrii,
C. biflorus artvinensis,
C. biflorus biflorus,
C. biflorus crewei,
C. biflorus fibroannulatus,
C. biflorus isauricus,
C. biflorus melantherus,
C. biflorus nubigena,
C. biflorus pseudonubigena,
C. biflorus pulchricolor,
C. biflorus punctatus,
C. biflorus stridii,
C. biflorus tauri,
C. biflorus wattiorum,
C. biflorus weldenii,
C. boryi,
C. boulosii,
C. cambessedesii,
C. cancellatus cancellatus,
C. cancellatus damascenus,
C. cancellatus lycius,
C. cancellatus mazziaricus,
C. cancellatus pamphylicus,
C. candidus,
C. carpetanus,
C. cartwrightianus,
C. caspius,
C. chrysanthus,
C. corsicus,
C. cvijicii,
C. cyprius,
C. dalmaticus,
C. danfordiae,
C. etruscus,
C. flavus dissectus,
C. flavus flavus,
C. fleischeri,
C. gargaricus gargaricus,
C. gargaricus herbertii,
C. gilanicus,
C. goulimyi goulimyi,
C. goulimyi leucanthus,
C. graveolens,
C. hadriaticus hadriaticus,
C. hadriaticus parnassicus,
C. hadriaticus parnonicus,
C. hartmannianus,
C. hermoneus hermoneus,
C. hermoneus palaestinus,
C. hyemalis,
C. imperati imperati,
C. imperati suaveloens,
C. karduchorum,
C. kerndorffiorum,
C. korolkowii,
C. kosaninii,
C. kotschyanus cappadocicus,
C. kotschyanus hakkariensis,
C. kotschyanus kotschyanus,
C. kotschyanus suworowianus,
C. laevigatus,
C. leichtlinii,
C. longiflorus,
C. malyi,
C. mathewii,
C. medius,
C. michelsonii,
C. minimus,
C. minutus,
C. moabiticus,
C. nevadensis,
C. niveus,
C. nudiflorus,
C. ochroleucus,
C. olivieri balansae,
C. olivieri istanbulensis,
C. olivieri olivieri,
C. oreocreticus,
C. pallasii dispathaceus,
C. pallasii haussknechtii,
C. pallasii pallasii,
C. pallasii turcicus,
C. paschei,
C. pelistericus,
C. pestalozzae,
C. pulchellus,
C. reticulatus hittiticus,
C. reticulatus reticulatus,
C. robertianus,
C. roseoviolaceus,
C. rujanensis,
C. sativus,
C. scardicus,
C. scharojanii,
C. serotinus clusii,
C. serotinus salzmannii,
C. serotinus serotinus,
C. sieberi atticus,
C. sieberi nivalis,
C. sieberi sieberi,
C. sieberi sublimis,
C. sieheanus,
C. speciosus ilgazensis,
C. speciosus speciosus,
C. speciosus xantholaimos,
C. thomasii,
C. tommasinianus,
C. tournefortii,
C. vallicola,
C. veluchensis,
C. veneris,
C. vernus albiflorus,
C. vernus vernus,
C. versicolor,
C. vitellinus,

Crocus hybrids
Corms and Tunics
Leaves
Flowers
Stamens and Styles
Pollination and Seeds