Consulta Plantas

Care of the bulbous plant Crocus or Saffron

The genus Crocus, family Iridaceae, includes 90 species of bulbous plants native to the Mediterranean region, central Asia and China. There are a great variety of hybrids.

Common name: Saffron.

They are small perennial bulbous plants that reach 20 cm (7.87") in height. The fine, ribbed leaves emerge from the bulb and have a central white stripe. The bell-shaped flowers appear in groups of 2 or 3 or solitary and can be white, blue, lilac, violet, yellow, orange or purple. They bloom in different seasons according to the species.

- Species that bloom in autumn: Crocus speciosus, Crocus byzantinus, Crocus sativus (Saffron), Crocus longiflorus, Crocus kotschyanus.

- Species that bloom in winter and spring: Crocus aureus, Crocus chrysanthus, Crocus biflorus, Crocus imperati, Crocus tomasinianus, Crocus vernus, Crocus susianus, Crocus minimal, Crocus sieberi.

They are used on rockeries, on borders, to create colored spots on the lawn or in undergrowth; They are suitable for pots on terraces and balconies.

Crocus needs full sun or semi-shade exposure. They must be protected from frost.

The soil can be a garden substrate with 1/3 peat, a little manure or humus and 1/3 coarse sand. Planting is done in autumn. Plant the bulbs 7 cm deep and 5 cm apart.

Water moderately, waiting for the substrate to dry; overwatering can rot the bulb.

Fertilize with compost at the time of planting.

They are resistant and easy to grow plants that do not usually have problems with pests and diseases.

They propagate from the bulblets that the plant produces in the central bulb. They separate in summer hoping that the leaves have turned yellow; keep the bulbs in a dry and dark place until planting.

Images of the bulbous plant Crocus or Saffron