Seasonal Wild Flowers

Early Crocus

Crocus tommasinianus

Iridaceae

February to April

It is thinly scattered, but is more common in the South

See the BSBI distribution map for Early Crocus

Early Crocus was introduced from Eastern Europe and has

been grown in English gardens since the 1840s.

It is a recent naturalised escape (1960s) grows by paths

and roads, in grasslands, parks, churchyards and open

woodland.

It is a cormous, perennial herb, growing up to 10cm.

It has more slender and paler flowers than Spring Crocus,

and the flower tube is completely white.

It has 3 large pale yellow anthers and a feathery orange

stigma, typical of crocuses in general.

Leaves are thin, dark green with a white mid-rib.

It spread easily by corms and seed.

Early Crocus on rough grassland

White flower tube

Pale yellow stamens, orange stigma

Narrow leaves, white mid-rib