Crocus flavus flower (16/02/2012, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Early spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 10cm
Eventual Spread: 7cm
Hardiness: 3a – 9b
Family: Iridaceae
Crocus flavus is a small, tufted deciduous perennial corm. Its dark green leaves are linear, usually with a silvery central stripe, they are grass like with an entire margin. The leaves appear at the same time as the flower and remain until early summer when the wither. The bright yellow flowers of this corm are goblet shaped and persist in the plant for about a week. The flowers usually has 3 stamens. This plant will produce viable seed in the UK and will self seed.
Crocus flavus, commonly known as the Yellow Crocus, Dutch Yellow Crocus or the Bottle-Flowered Crocus, is native to south east Europe, including north west Turkey. Crocus flavus is synonymus with Crocus luteus, Crocus aureus and Crocus maesiacus. It has been cultivated in the UK since the 17 Century.
Crocus flavus (16/02/2012, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Crocus is derived from the Greek name Krokos, a thread, which was actually the filaments of the styles being the source of the dye. Flavus is derived from the Latin name for yellow, obviously referring to the color of the flower.
The landscape architect may find Crocus flavus useful for naturalising areas of grass, including grass banks.
Ecologically, C. flavus is pollinated by bees and beetles.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given C. flavus subsp. flavus their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
C. flavus prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate water-logging.
C. flavus requires little maintenance. If naturalised in grass, the grass should not be mown until the leaves of the Crocus have died down.
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