About
Crocus banaticus is a perennial corm that produces flowers in shades ranging from lilac to light purple, emerging in early autumn before the foliage appears. The inner tepals are significantly smaller than the outer ones, which tend to reflex under intense sunlight.
About the genus
Crocus are small, deciduous perennials that emerge from corms. They feature narrow leaves, often marked with a silvery stripe down the center. The flowers, which can be fragrant, are goblet-shaped and appear in either autumn or early spring.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Alpine Rockery, Bulbs
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0-0.1 metre
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens, Rock garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- E Europe
- Toxicity
- Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a moderately fertile, humus-rich, moderately well-drained soil. See crocus cultivation for more advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame when ripe or remove cormlets when dormant
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to rodents and birds
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free, corms may rot in storage