Leaf
Liliane Roubaudi, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Spring crocus
Crocus vernus L.
Also known as: Dutch crocus, Giant crocus
Family: Iridaceae
8 to 15 cm tall
Meadows, gardens, lawns, well-drained soils
Flowering: February – April
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
One of the very first flowers to open at the end of winter, sometimes as soon as the last snows melt.
🍃 Leaves
Narrow, linear, with a central white line, appearing with or after the flowers
🌸 Flowers
Large cup-shaped flowers, purple, white or striped
🍎 Fruits
Underground capsule containing many seeds
🪵 Bark
Underground corm, no aerial stem
🗺️ Distribution
Mountains of central and southern Europe; naturalised and widely grown in lowland areas throughout France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Early flowers rich in pollen and nectar, a crucial resource for the first bees and bumblebees emerging from hibernation.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Naturalised lawns, rock gardens, borders; among the first blooms of the garden at the end of winter.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable toxicity known for this spring crocus; not to be confused with the autumn crocus (meadow saffron), which is highly toxic and often wrongly called a "crocus".
🌿 Other Iridaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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