Bulb · Iridaceae family
spring crocus
Crocus vernus
In short a 10-second read
Spring crocus (bulb) grows to 0.08–0.15 m tall and 0.08–0.15 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in March–May; the flowers are purple or white. Hardy to −40 °C.
× spread 0.08–0.15 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −40 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy, sandy, gravelly
Soil pH 6–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
March–May · purple or white
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove the leaves once they have turned yellow (May–June).
Planting
bulb: September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −40 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −40 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does spring crocus flower?
In March–May; the flowers are purple or white.
Does spring crocus tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does spring crocus need?
At maturity 0.08–0.15 m wide and 0.08–0.15 m tall; recommended spacing 9 cm.
Does spring crocus survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −40 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 20 October 2026.
Show sources (19)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Crocus vernus
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Crocus
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Crocus vernus
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Crocus vernus
- Wikidata (CC0) — Crocus vernus
- EPPO Global Database — Crocus vernus
- Fluwel
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Gärtnerei Strickler
- Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
- RHS - Bulbs: growing guide
- RHS - Crocus vernus
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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