About
Crocus imperati subsp. suaveolens 'De Jager' is a perennial plant that grows to about 10 cm in height. It features clumps of glossy, dark green foliage adorned with a central silvery-white stripe. The flowers, measuring 3 to 4.5 cm in length, exhibit a rich violet-purple hue on the interior, while the exterior displays a pale creamy brown with violet stripes. Notably, the flowers have orange stigmas and stamens and bloom from late winter to early spring. This crocus serves as an important early-season pollen source for honeybees.
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
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0-0.1 metre
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
- Fragrance
- Flower
- 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
- Plant 8-10cm deep in autumn in gritty, poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil, in full sun; because the flowers appear very early it is best grown in a sheltered position; for more advice, see crocus cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by removing cormlets during dormancy; for more advice, see bulb propagation
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to rodents and birds
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free, corms may rot in storage