Crocus pulchellus Zephyr

Crocus pulchellus 'Zephyr' is a particularly elegant and bright variety. It comes from a hardy autumn-flowering botanical species that is easy to grow in any well-drained soil. It produces flowers that range from pale purple to white, revealing a stunning veining when held up to the light. In the centre of the corolla, a yellow throat houses a decorative orange style. The foliage emerges from the ground after flowering and persists through winter. Its small bulbs can be planted in a rock garden, along borders, at the base of deciduous trees, or in a lawn. They can also be grown in pots, allowing a closer look at the delicacy of their flowers.

Crocus pulchellus 'Zephyr' belongs to the iris family, like all crocuses. The species, closely related to C. speciosus, is naturally found from the northern Balkan Peninsula to northwest Turkey, passing through Mount Athos in northern Greece. It is adapted to mountain Mediterranean climates. In the wild, this crocus grows in short grass, understory forests, or sparse thickets. It has been awarded by the RHS in England for its ornamental qualities and performance in gardens. So it can be assumed that its cultivation is not solely for specialists!

Crocus pulchellus 'Zephyr' blooms in September-October, depending on the climate. Each bulb produces a 10 cm tall flower that emerges directly from the ground. The elongated cup-shaped flowers have 6 petals finely veined in grey-blue on a background of very pale mauve that almost turns white. They open up to a small yellow throat. The flower's centre is occupied by an orange style divided into filaments. This style dominates a column of stamens with white anthers and hairy filaments. The flowers close at night and in bad weather and only fully open in the sun. The foliage emerges after flowering, persists through winter, and dries up in early spring. It consists of fine linear, single and alternate, medium green leaves with a prominent central vein. The "bulbs" are actually corms covered by a tough tunic that splits into rings at the base. In plant morphology, a corm is an underground storage organ that resembles a bulb but is formed by a swollen stem surrounded by a fibrous skin.

The flowering of Crocus pulchellus 'Zephyr' is a delightful surprise in early autumn. Its bulbs can be planted in rock gardens, lawns, in the sun, or even at the base of deciduous shrubs and trees. It will thrive and naturalise in any well-drained soil, even slightly moist in summer. Mix autumn crocuses with colchicums and spring crocuses to enjoy multiple blooms throughout the year.

A tip about crocuses: their roots have the particular ability to contract like a spring, allowing the plant to settle at the ideal depth.