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Crocus tommasinianus

Early Crocus · Tommasini's Crocus · Woodland Crocus

Family IridaceaeGenus Crocus

A single pale lilac crocus opened flat to show a bright orange divided style, among dry grass
FlowerMartyn M aka MartyxCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.3-6 ft0.1-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Purple/Lavender, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, WinterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, NW. Balkan Pen.GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Tommasini's crocus is often planted in large drifts in gardens and parks, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It spreads so easily that it is officially recognized as a weed, and it has gone wild in Delaware. Wikipedia: Crocus tommasinianus

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 13, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 4 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 4 days.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 49 days.

93% germination in 21–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Crocus p. 127Public domain
Show the original text
Crocus (lridaceae). . - C. tomasinianus seed was WC for 4 d to remove most of the aril. Germination was 70-40(93% in 3-7 w) and more extended in 40(60% in 8-10 w)-70-40(40% in 2-4 w). Germination is hypogeal. The seedlings must be kept at 40 for 3 m and until leaf growth is evident before shifting to 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Crocus p. 127. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 4 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 4 days.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    40 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

4 days from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 70 days.

60% germination in 56–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Crocus p. 127Public domain
Show the original text
Crocus (lridaceae). . - C. tomasinianus seed was WC for 4 d to remove most of the aril. Germination was 70-40(93% in 3-7 w) and more extended in 40(60% in 8-10 w)-70-40(40% in 2-4 w). Germination is hypogeal. The seedlings must be kept at 40 for 3 m and until leaf growth is evident before shifting to 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Crocus p. 127. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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