Crocus vernus Silver Coral

The Crocus vernus 'Silver Coral' is a small spring-flowering bulb as charming as it is easy to grow, which brightens borders, lawns, or rockeries in late winter. Very hardy and reliable, it captivates with its large white flowers touched with light violet at the base and its ability to naturalise quickly in sunny spots in a lawn, rock garden, or at the foot of deciduous trees.

The crocus 'Silver Coral' is a recent cultivar selected from Crocus vernus subsp. vernus, also known as spring crocus, a botanical species native to the mountains of central and eastern Europe. It belongs to the Iridaceae family and grows from an underground bulb. This small 10 to 15 cm plant forms a clump of linear, dark green leaves with a silvery central stripe, which appear at the same time as its large, solitary, cup-shaped flowers. These bloom from the first fine days, between late March and early April, for about three weeks. Each flower presents a delicate contrast between white petals and a light violet-tinted base, and closes at night or in bad weather, opening better under the sun's rays. The foliage fades in spring some time after flowering, and the plant enters summer dormancy until the following autumn. Very hardy (down to –29 °C) and undemanding, this variety thrives in well-drained soil, in sun or light shade.

The spring crocus offers the garden its very first splashes of colour, adding a touch of freshness and elegance, from the end of winter. With its large, luminous flowers, the 'Silver Coral' is ideal for creating natural colonies in lawns, at the edge of borders, along paths, or at the foot of deciduous bushes. It pairs perfectly with other early bulbs such as Crocus chrysanthus 'Advance', snowdrops (Galanthus) or small botanical daffodils. In pots or planters, it enlivens balconies and terraces from the first rays of sunshine. For a beautiful effect, it is recommended to plant the bulbs in tight groups. Once established, they naturalise easily, multiply year after year and require little maintenance provided that the foliage is allowed to yellow naturally after flowering before removing, so that the bulb can replenish its reserves.