Meadow Saffron

Cerise pink to purple petals with the most intricate tessellated (chequered) pattern. Each bloom is around 5cm long and opens on upright stems to 10cm. The flowers form alone or in pairs from hardy corms that multiply readily.

They look fantastic in rockeries, lawn plantings, at the edge of borders or in pots. They naturalise well and will form nice clumps. It holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit so you know it is garden worthy and you don’t need a green thumb to grow it.

They are also known as one of the Naked Ladies as the flowers bloom before the foliage. The leaves emerge winter/spring. The deep green, lance shaped, wavy foliage can grow to around 40cm. Keep this in mind when you space your bulbs.

Plant in sun or part shade, they aren’t too fussy, they just need somewhere the flowers can be show off to best advantage. Plant into humus rich, well drained soil and water in. They are dry tolerant once established. It will bloom earlier than C. byzantinum.

While commonly known as Autumn Crocus it is, in fact more closely related to the Lily. Meadow Saffron as a term is also a bit misleading as while the stamens are a similar colour, all parts of the plants are poisonous if eaten.

Originating in Greece and Turkey, they have been cultivated for many many years and are easy to grow in cool to Mediterranean climates.