'Orange Monarch' Snow Crocus
Bulbs
- Deep orange flowers with brown streaks.
- Extremely cold-hardy, seen blooming in snowstorms!
- Suitable for slopes & quite salt-tolerant.
- Plant bulbs in fall to enjoy the following spring.
- Zones 3-8, sun/part sun, up to 4-6” tall x wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
The best time to plant crocus bulbs is in the fall, about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows time for the bulbs to establish hardy root systems before entering dormancy, ensuring healthy and vibrant blooms come spring. Hold off on mowing over crocus in the spring until the foliage has died back to encourage spreading.
Details
Common name: Crocus
Zones: 3-8
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height x width: 4-6” tall & wide.
Flower color: Purple stripes
Foliage color: Green
Planting Time: Fall
Season of Interest: Early Spring
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Features: Low-maintenance, spring interest, drought-tolerant, container-friendly, cold-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, salt-tolerant
Uses: Landscaping, mass planting, containers, borders, rainbow gardens, cottage gardening, pollinator garden, ground cover
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day) to part sun (4-6 hrs/day)
Water: Average water needs. Water deeply after planting, then leave alone until spring.
Planting Depth: 3-4” deep
Spacing: 3" apart.
Fertilizing: Generally, not required. In poor soils, a light application of slow-release fertilizer can be applied at planting time.
Winterizing: Crocus bulbs are exceptionally cold-tolerant and require cold temperatures to bloom in the spring, so no special winterizing is necessary.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.