Crocus ligusticus

Crocus ligusticus or Ligurian Crocus is a perennial botanical bulbous plant from southeastern France, whose beauty is equal to horticultural varieties. The thin and elongated leaves are fully developed in May. The flowers appear in September. The simple corollas have a charming violet-lilac hue, contrasting with bright yellow anthers. The finely divided pistil with orange stigmas catches the eye. This bulbous plant should be planted in well-draining soil and in sunny exposure in climates that are not too cold.

Crocus ligusticus, also known as Ligurian Saffron, is a member of the Iridaceae botanical family, which includes more than 1700 species. The other best-known genera are iris, gladiolus, crocosmia, and freesia. This wild crocus is native to Liguria (from which it derives its species name in Latin), a small Italian region whose coastal part is known as the Riviera. It is also found in the Alpes-Maritimes. In nature, it is mainly found in pine forests, pastures, and scrubland, at low and medium altitudes (approximately 400 to 1500m (1312 to 4921ft)). It is a rare species, protected in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (classified as vulnerable), which grows in full sun or under light shade.

Crocus is classified as a bulbous plant, but its storage organ is actually a corm (a swollen stem surrounded by scales) which, in C. ligusticus, measures 2 to 2.5cm (1in) in diameter. In spring, it generally produces 2 to 3 very narrow and elongated leaves, reaching a maximum length of 30cm (12in). They are medium green, flexible, and resemble grass leaves. The flowering appears in autumn, between September and November, sometimes even December, in the form of a solitary single corolla with six tepals (petals and sepals of similar morphology). The 5 to 6cm (2in) diameter flowers are carried by a peduncle about 10cm (4in) long. The blooms take on a colour ranging from mauve to violet and lilac. The 3 stamens present in the centre end in yellow anthers that blend beautifully with the colour of the tepals. The aesthetics of this flower are further enhanced by the central pistil, which separates into laciniate stigmas, forming a small plume of bright orange. Both striking and colourful, the flowering is truly ornamental and particularly interesting in the autumn season.

As a native wild species, Crocus ligusticus is truly decorative, both for its flowering, which is completely different from most bulbous plants, and for the beauty of its flower. Its small size means it can be grown in containers. In the ground, you can create mass effects by planting it in groups. Plant it in full sun in front of a mass of shrubs and perennials, or possibly at the edge of small trees, under which you can plant white Naples cyclamen. The cyclamen will bear its graceful flowers a little earlier than those of the crocus, and some may even coexist for a while, creating a lovely scene. To stay in a wildflower spirit and extend the flowering period, opt for early-flowering crocus, such as the very pretty Crocus korolkowii, which will reward you with star-shaped yellow flowers in February-March. In the background of these low-growing plants, position some shrubs with spring and summer flowering, such as spireas or shrubby potentillas, and you will easily achieve a flower bed that blooms almost all year round.