Crocuses Still Blooming But Crowded

You’re right, crocuses aren’t exactly a wild herb, but since they’re one of the only flowers blooming right now, they’re getting my attention.

I did see bunches of daffodils or jonquils, Narcissus spp., blooming in town yesterday. Although native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, you can see Narcissi flowering in American woods and empty lots here, marking where old homesteads once were — planted near the old house, no doubt. No matter when or where they’re planted, everyone knows it’s Spring when they see the daffodils blooming.

Crocuses bloom a short time before the daffodil group, but they probably bloom together for a little while. Crocus flowers last about a week. One individual plant might bloom over a week’s time and other plants will bloom earlier or later. A group of crocuses can then be blooming for about two weeks as the early ones fade away and later ones reach full flower.

Every year the crocus bulbs produce one or several clones of themselves. Over the years the proliferation of bulbs will create a compact grouping of crocuses. When there are too many plants in the same small area, they must be thinned out in order to propagate them further.

Here, three or four bulbs were planted four years ago for each of the three clumps of crocus blooms. Each group of crocus now provides about two dozen blooms.

About every three years we’ll dig up the crocuses – and other bulbs – and re-distribute them or plant some in new areas. This time I might plant some randomly in the yard instead of tidily in a flower bed. Thanks, Martha!

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