Plant Portraits No.2: Crocus sieberi subsp atticus 'Firefly'

This week's plant portrait comes in the form of a wonderful little crocus which is just starting to appear in the garden here at Duck Pools. C. sieberi subsp atticus 'Firefly' has the most beautiful lilac colouring finished at the base with a delightful egg yolk orange blotch.

As part of the group known as 'snow crocus', this garden gem flowers several weeks earlier than other larger hybrid crocus. The flowers barely reach 4" in height and will only fully open given a position in full sun. It is a treat to see them ease their petals apart and reveal their golden goblet on a sunny day.

As with many other crocus species, they make a great addition to a lawn - just be aware that you will have to ease off on the mowing until the foliage has all but died back. However, C. sieberi subsp atticus 'Firefly' will be more than happy growing in pots and borders. At Duck Pools i grow them in the circle garden border and in the rockery, where they look great set against the golden gravel and the bare black earth.

Bulbs are readily available to purchase in the autumn and require planting 3-4" deep. The only thing to watch out for are rodents. Mice and squirrels can be quite partial to crocus bulbs. I have found poison to be the best form of defence and also jeyes fluid or armillatox as a soil drench to through the rodents of their scent.

If i could only grow one crocus this would have to be the one without any doubt...