Crocus Flower Record - Premium Spring Bulb
Overview
The Crocus Flower Record is a stunning large-flowered spring crocus that brings vibrant purple blooms to your garden when winter's grip begins to loosen. This robust Dutch crocus variety produces generous displays of deep violet-purple flowers with distinctive darker veining, creating a spectacular carpet of colour that signals the arrival of spring.
Key Features
Flower Characteristics
- Large, goblet-shaped blooms measuring 8-10cm across when fully open
- Rich purple petals with deeper violet striping and golden-yellow centres
- Blooms appear from February to April, depending on your location
- Each bulb typically produces 3-5 flowers per season
Plant Specifications
- Height: 10-15cm when in bloom
- Spread: 5-8cm per bulb
- Hardiness: Fully hardy in UK conditions (RHS H7)
- Bulb size: 9/10cm circumference for reliable flowering
Growing Requirements
Soil and Position
- Prefers well-draining soil - avoid waterlogged conditions
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade
- Suitable for most soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils
- Ideal soil pH: neutral to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.5)
Planting Guidelines
- Plant bulbs 7-10cm deep and 5-8cm apart
- Best planted between September and November
- Choose a position that receives morning sunlight
- Excellent for naturalising in grass, borders, and containers
Garden Uses
Perfect for:
- Rock gardens and alpine displays
- Naturalising in lawn areas
- Spring border plantings
- Container gardening and window boxes
- Underplanting deciduous shrubs and trees
- Creating drifts of early spring colour
Companion Planting Works beautifully alongside other spring bulbs such as snowdrops, daffodils, and winter aconites. Plant with early perennials like hellebores and pulmonaria for extended seasonal interest.
Care and Maintenance
Routine Care
- Minimal maintenance required once established
- Allow foliage to die back naturally (6-8 weeks after flowering)
- Apply balanced fertiliser in early spring if desired
- Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigour
Watering
- Water during active growth if spring is particularly dry
- Reduce watering as foliage yellows
- Avoid watering during summer dormancy period
Wildlife Benefits
Crocus Flower Record provides valuable early nectar for emerging bees, particularly honeybees and bumblebees. The pollen-rich flowers are amongst the first food sources available to pollinators after winter, making them an essential component of wildlife-friendly gardens.
Seasonal Performance
Year One: Reliable flowering from quality bulbs, establishing root systems Year Two Onwards: Increased flower production and gradual naturalisation Long-term: Forms attractive colonies that multiply naturally, providing decades of spring display
Planting Tips for Success
- Choose bulbs that feel firm and heavy for their size
- Plant pointed end upwards, flat end down
- In heavy soils, add grit or sharp sand to improve drainage
- Mark planting areas to avoid accidental disturbance
- Consider successive plantings for extended flowering period
Storage and Handling
Store bulbs in a cool, dry place until planting. Inspect regularly and discard any that show signs of mould or softness. Plant as soon as possible after purchase for best results, ideally within 4-6 weeks of receipt.
Buying Bulbs from Jacksons Nurseries
Bulbs are supplied either in pre-packaged retail packs or in some cases they are loosly picked and sent bagged.