How to Grow Snow Crocus Bulbs

About Growing Snow Crocuses in Your Home Flower Garden

Snow crocuses flowers are aptly named, as they are the earliest of spring flowers. Crocus plants can be found bursting into bloom, while snow is still on the ground. These hardy flowers begin to grow with a warm spell in late winter or early spring. If it snows again before they bloom, or during bloom, that’s okay. Both the plant and the flowers will be unharmed. It only takes a few days of growth, to blossom into the first bright colors of the year. This guide on growing Crocus bulbs will show you just how easy, and rewarding, it is to grow them.

Flowers Bloom: We think of Crocus as an early spring blooming bulb. But, some varieties of Crocus bloom in the fall.

Flower Colors: a wide variety of bright colors

Plant height: 4 to 6 inches tall.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 – 8

Snow Crocuses are native to Southern Europe and Asia. Crocuses are as popular in other parts of the world, as they are in your own backyard. Their early blooms brighten up the landscape around the world with white, yellow, blue, and light orange flowers above thin grass-like leaves. These small plants grow just 3-4 inches tall. Best of all, they are easy to grow and very prolific.

While many people refer to crocus as bulbs, these plants actually grow from corms, a bulb-like stem.

Not only are crocuses good flowers in the garden, but they also make good houseplants. You can easily force Snow Crocus to bloom indoors. Learn how to Force Bulbs.

Did you know? The word “Crocus” is Latin for Saffron. Knowing this, it should not surprise you that Saffron comes from the stigma of the Saffron Crocus. But, it takes thousands of flowers to get an ounce of Saffron.

Crocus Flowers Plant Propagation

Crocus is grown from corms, a bulb-like stem. The mother corm produces several baby corms, then usually die in the same year. The new corms can be dug up and separated to be replanted. Make sure to mark and keep colors separate, if you want to create a design in the new bed.

Bulb Planting Depth: 3 to 4 inches deep.

How to Grow Crocus Flower Bulb

Plant crocus singly, or in groups. We do not recommend planting a large number of them close together, as they will rapidly multiply. In a year or two, that small group will become a major clump of attractive plants, regardless of how many you plant together. Fortunately, Crocus plants tolerate overcrowding.

Plant Snow Crocus corms in the fall. Select a sunny location where the soil is not too wet or soggy over the winter and spring months. Most importantly, select a planting location where you can see them from a window of your house. You don’t want to miss the first show of the year!

First work the soil, adding compost to provide a rich bed for growth. Mix into the soil a generous portion of bulb fertilizer. Plant corms singly, or in groups as desired. These small corms can be planted using a trowel, a bulb planter, or just by pushing them into soft soil to the proper depth of about 2 inches from the top of the corm. Add a thin (not thick) layer of mulch on top, if desired.

Snow crocus flowers look their best in groups. They tolerate crowding. However, if too crowded, the flowers are smaller, and the plant may fail to produce flowers. As a result, you need to dig them up and separate the corms every several years.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0.

Insects and Plant Disease

Snow Crocuses are resistant to insects and disease. But, squirrels like to snack on newly planted corms. If you have squirrels in the neighborhood, provide some protection for your helpless corms! You can cover the area with a screen until winter snow arrives. Or, you can spray the area with a repellent.