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Crocus Ruby Giant

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Pick Crocus Ruby Giant (Crocus tommasinianus) to bring a dazzling splash of early spring magic to your garden. With rich purple petals touched with hints of red and bright orange stamens, this striking crocus blooms just as winter fades, creating vibrant colour when it’s needed most. The slender, grass-like foliage adds texture long after the blooms have gone, keeping borders, lawns, and containers full of life. Known for its shade tolerance and hardiness, it thrives in cool to warmer climates, enduring frosts down to -15°C and blooming reliably in morning sun and afternoon shade. Perfect for naturalising, Crocus Ruby Giant returns each year with minimal care, offering vital early nectar for pollinators and transforming any garden into a symbol of new beginnings and effortless beauty.

Description

Crocus Ruby Giant (Crocus tommasinianus)

Crocus Ruby Giant is a variety of Crocus tommasinianus, a corm-forming perennial from the Iridaceae family, native to Southern Europe and the Balkans. Its purple blooms, with subtle red tones and bright orange stamens, bring early colour to borders, lawns, and containers in late winter to early spring.

Ruby Giant is more shade-tolerant than other crocuses, thriving in cool to warmer climates with morning sun and afternoon shade. It naturalises easily, returning yearly with minimal care and offering early nectar for pollinators and spring charm.

 

Uses in the Garden

Crocus Ruby Giant is incredibly versatile, thriving in lawns, borders, and containers. Its pollinator-friendly blooms offer vital early-season nectar for bees and other insects, making it a valuable addition to any garden. When planted in large groups, it creates an eye-catching carpet of rich purple flowers that brighten gardens at the very start of spring.

Key Uses:

  • Naturalising in lawns, beds, and under deciduous trees
  • Bringing early colour to shaded borders and pathways
  • Planting in containers for portable spring displays
  • Supporting early pollinators with nectar

 

Climate Suitability

Crocus Ruby Giant is well-suited to cool to subtropical climates, adapting particularly well to warmer regions due to its shade tolerance. In cooler areas, it thrives thanks to consistent winter chill and moist, well-drained soil. In Mediterranean and arid regions, it benefits from dry summers that reduce rot risk, while in subtropical climates, planting in the morning sun with afternoon shade helps the corms stay cooler. Its ability to adapt to different environments makes it a top pick for gardeners across various climates.

 

How to Plant Crocus Ruby Giant

  1. Location: Plant in full sun to part shade.
  2. Soil: Ensure the soil is well-drained. Amend clay soils with sand or compost.
  3. Depth & Spacing: Plant bulbs 10 cm deep and 7-10 cm apart. In warmer climates, plant deeper to protect from heat fluctuations.
  4. Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to help the corms settle. Minimal watering is needed once established.
  5. Fertilising: Apply blood and bone or a balanced fertiliser at planting to support growth.

Mulching: Add a light mulch layer to retain moisture and suppress weeds

 

Aftercare

Crocus Ruby Giant is low maintenance, returning year after year when planted in well-drained soil. Allow the foliage to naturally die back after flowering to help the corms store energy. In wet summers, lift and store corms during dormancy to prevent rot. In warmer, humid areas, a 6-week chilling period during dormancy can improve flowering consistency. Once established, these crocuses will require little attention, making them an ideal choice for busy gardeners or naturalised areas that require minimal intervention.

 

Division

Over time, Crocus Ruby Giant will multiply and form clumps, making it perfect for naturalising. Divide clumps every 3-5 years to prevent overcrowding and maintain healthy growth.

How to Divide:

  • Timing: Late summer, when the corms are dormant
  • Lifting: Gently lift clumps using a garden fork
  • Separating: Pull apart corms, ensuring each has roots attached
  • Replanting: Replant immediately or store in a cool, dry place until the next season

 

Pests and Diseases

While Crocus Ruby Giant is generally low-maintenance, it may be affected by pests or diseases if planted in poorly drained soil or if conditions are too wet.

Common Pests:

  • Slugs/snails: Use crushed eggshells or coffee grounds as deterrents
  • Rodents/birds: Protect bulbs with chicken wire to prevent digging

Common Diseases:

  • Botrytis (Grey Mould): Ensure good air circulation and avoid overwatering
  • Corm Rot: Plant in well-drained soil to reduce the risk of waterlogging

 

Safety

Crocuses are harmful if eaten. If ingested or if any symptoms occur, seek medical advice immediately.

Safety Tips:

  • Keep bulbs out of reach of pets and children
  • Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin when handling bulbs
  • Monitor pets to prevent accidental ingestion during planting or blooming

Supplied as dormant bulbs.

Additional information

Price Code

B – Aqua Pack

Botanical Name

Crocus tommasinianus

Quantity in Pack

4 Bulbs

Flowering Time

Late Winter to Early Spring

Planting Time

Plant from March onwards once the ground has cooled.

Growing Height

8-15 cm

Planting Depth

Plant 10 cm deep. For those in mild climates, plant twice as deep to ensure they stay cool.

Soil

Crocuses need well-draining soil to prevent corm rot. Light sandy soil enriched with organic matter like compost or a well decayed manure is ideal. Avoid heavy, clayey soils or amend them with sand or grit to improve drainage.

For pots, choose a high-quality potting mix designed for bulbs or flowers, which typically includes perlite or vermiculite for excellent drainage and aeration.

How to Plant

Choose a spot with full sun to part shade, ensuring at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Loosen the top 20 cm of soil to improve drainage and help corms take root. Mix in well-rotted compost, blood and bone, or a balanced fertiliser for nutrients.

Plant corms 10 cm deep, or twice as deep in warmer climates to protect from heat. Space them 7-10 cm apart with the pointed side up. Cover with soil, press gently to remove air pockets, and water lightly to settle the soil.

Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.

For pots, use a quality potting mix and follow the same planting steps. Corms can be placed closer together, ensuring they don't touch. A 15 cm pot can comfortably hold up to 8 corms for a vibrant display.

Watering

Keep the soil slightly moist during the growing season, but avoid waterlogging to prevent rot. After blooming, as crocuses enter dormancy, reduce watering significantly. They prefer drier conditions during dormancy to prevent corm rot.

In cool regions with consistent rainfall, such as Tasmania or parts of Victoria, ensure the planting area has excellent drainage. Raised beds, rockeries, or slopes can help reduce water accumulation. In warmer regions, avoid overwatering during summer dormancy. Use well-drained soil and minimise moisture, especially in humid, subtropical areas, to protect the corms.

Fertilise

If the soil isn’t enriched with compost or well-decayed manure, apply blood and bone or a complete fertiliser when preparing the soil, or just before flowering in winter to support growth. Thereafter, top dress at the end of summer with general fertiliser or bulb food to boost nutrients before the growing season. Alternatively, apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning

After flowering, let the foliage wither naturally to help the corms store energy for next season. Once yellow and dry, trim back with clean scissors. For lawn plantings, delay mowing until foliage fully dies back to avoid disturbing the corms.

Crocuses can naturalise in well-drained soil, but aftercare depends on climate. In cooler regions with occasional rain, they thrive with little intervention. In warmer, humid areas prone to wet summers, monitor soil moisture to prevent rot. If heavy rain is expected, lift and store corms in a cool, dry place during dormancy.

Crocuses tolerate temperatures down to -15°C, but insufficient winter chill can impact future blooms. In warmer, humid regions, a 6-week chilling period during dormancy is essential to promote consistent flowering. Storing the corms in a refrigerator each year can help meet their cold requirements, though replacing them annually is optional. Gardeners in humid climates may find it easier to replace corms each year to achieve the best results, as even with chilling, the lack of natural cold may reduce bloom quality over time.

In warmer, drier regions, lifting may not be necessary, as natural winters often provide sufficient chilling. To prevent rot from heavy rain, plant in well-drained soil and consider sheltered spots, such as under deciduous trees, where the corms benefit from drier conditions during dormancy.

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