Rodents and birds
What you will see
Dug-up, eaten bulbs or nipped-off flowers.
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Bulb · Iridaceae family
Spring crocus
Crocus vernus
Full sun to part shade 0.08–0.15 m × 0.08–0.15 m Flowers March–May to −40 °C
Flower colours Click a colour
In short a 10-second read
SunFull sun to part shade
Size0.08–0.15 m
spacing 9 cm
spacing 9 cm
FlowersMarch–May
PlantingSeptember–November
WinterNo winter protection
Where to plant and how much to water
Sun, soil and water.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil.
Sun
Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h
Soil
acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
Watering
Frost
−40 °C
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
0.08–0.15 m× spread 0.08–0.15 m
Plant 9 cm apart.
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
Through the year.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
FlowersPlanting
Now, in October: a good time for planting (bulb).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Flowers
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
March–May · purple or white
Planting
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
bulb: September–November
What to plant now (September) full list in September (147) →What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →What to plant now (November) full list in November (147) →
Feeding
Nutrition.
Light
Pests and diseases
Common problems and what to do.
The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.
Rodents and birdspest
What you will see
Dug-up, eaten bulbs or nipped-off flowers.
How to protect
Sources (1)
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.
Sources (18) Checked 20 October 2026
- plantfinder.mobot.org
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- api.gbif.org 2
- gd.eppo.int
- fluwel.de
- shop.foerster-stauden.de
- gaertnerei-strickler.de
- missouribotanicalgarden.org
- rhs.org.uk 2
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
Similar plants
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Uses
In the garden and at home.
Pollinators
many