Around February of each year , snow is still falling up here in Alaska . Moose are trample through yards , chomping all chip of sonant willow branches and babe birch tree limbs they can feel . ( Yes , I ’m still mad that they ate my birch rod tree diagram . )

While it ’s all very charming and beautiful , I set forth aching for color in February . So I unremarkably feed to the grocery store and beak up some candles that smell like spring – and flowers that look like it .

But what if in addition to my stunning store bought flowers , I hadcrocuses growing in my gardento gaze at , too ?

A close up of purple C. crysanthus flowers with dark edges and lighter center, surrounded by green foliage, fading into soft focus in the background.

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The addition of fresh prime to my kitchen windowsill lifts my spirit every February . The promise of crocuses soon to bloom would make me positively hallucinating with joy .

So because I ’ve been looking for variety to embed in the dip , I ’ve snipe up the 11 best varieties for your yard or garden .

A close up vertical picture of a cluster of purple and yellow C. crysanthus flowers growing in the spring. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

If you find you ca n’t decide between them , why not get a mix of bulbs ? There ’s three options for those , too .

11 of the Best Crocus Varieties For Your Garden

Quick Primer on Different Species

You ’ll notice that while all the blooming below are all of the same genus , Crocus , in theiris family , Iridaceae , not all are the same coinage .

In this list , you ’ll see varieties from the following coinage :

Now , permit ’s get started on receive the perfect bulb for your garden .

A close up vertical picture of a cluster of purple and yellow C. crysanthus flowers growing in the spring. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

1. Advance

Do n’t be fooled by the irksome name , becauseC. chrysanthus‘Advance ’ is anything but .

Delicate yellow-bellied with apoplexy of purple and cream , these bloom realize their name by being one of the very earliest of the early bloomers .

The delicate flowers only reach up to three in improbable .

A close up of light and dark purple and yellow C. crysanthus flowers growing in a lawn in the garden in springtime fading to soft focus in the background.

They ’re hardy inUSDA Hardiness Zones3 to 8 , love cheerfulness , and are drought kind , making them a practically worry - free flower .

‘ Advance ’

Since my sign of the zodiac is dark reddish , I might just institute ‘ progress ’ in my front lawn for a nice color contrast .

A close up of purple C. crysanthus flowers growing in the lawn on a bright spring day with a garden scene in soft focus in the background.

This is easy to do with bags of 50 , 100 , or 250 bulbsavailable at Eden Brothers , that ship in the fall .

2. Barr’s Purple

A slender - necked , purple prime , C. tommasinianus‘Barr ’s Purple ’ crocus opens into a pleasing bowl shape , as though it ’s welcoming a pool of sunlight to fill its petal .

This cervid - resistant bloom produce best in Zones 4 to 8 , flower in tardy February and early March , and attain a peak of four to six in .

‘ Barr ’s Purple ’

A close up of ‘Advance’ variety of C. chrysanthus growing in a terra cotta container in bright sunshine on a concrete surface.

you could get bags of 15 electric-light bulb that ship in former summerfrom Burpee .

3. Blue Pearl

As its name suggests , C. chrysanthus‘Blue Pearl ’ crocus variety features light up pearly - blue petals and is downright lovely .

For those who prefer a softer colour rather of something sheer and bright , ‘ Blue Pearl ’ is the answer .

How nifty would it be to see these demure flowers bloom every March or April ? Combine with a lily-white or yellow - flowering miscellanea for an extra burst of vividness .

A close up of the ‘Advance’ variety of C. crysanthus with yellow petals and light purple outers, in bright sunshine, surrounded by foliage.

‘ Blue Pearl ’

These corm , which arise good in USDA Zones 3 to 8 , were hybridized in Holland over fifty days ago .

They ’re modest than dead on target Dutch crocus kind   and flush earlier , but pairing the two type of lightbulb together pay your garden a beaming , natural expression .

A close up of a ‘Barr’s Purple’ variety of C. tommasinianus with light purple petals with darker purple edges, on a soft focus background.

discover them in face pack of 50 , 100 , and 200 incandescent lamp that ship in the fall , available at Eden Brothers .

4. Firefly

A cultivar ofC. sieberi , ‘ Firefly ’ boast pale violet heyday with golden throat .

Even best ? They ’re cervid repellent , so planting them with a non - deer - insubordinate salmagundi mean protection for all your wanted corm .

For a field of sweet ‘ Firefly ’ blooms , plant mathematical group of nine or ten corm every straight foot . make patch of crocus like this all over your lawn for a natural , meadow - similar flavour .

A close up of the purple blooms of the ‘Barr’s Purple’ variety of C. tommasinianus in light sunshine.

5. Flower Record

For abstruse purple bloom that could probably be consider from space , tryC. vernus‘Flower Record , ’ with its delicate rounded petal and vibrant color .

This Dutch variety grows enceinte blooms and flush in March and April , calculate on the climate .

‘ Flower Record ’

A close up of the ‘Blue Pearl’ variety of C. chrysanthus growing in clusters in the garden, with soil and foliage in soft focus in the background.

‘ Flower Record ’ grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9 and get hold of acme of four to six inches , making it a complete bound blossom for almost anyone .

dish of 15 bulb areavailable from Burpeeand ship during the late summertime and early gloam .

6. Jeanne d’Arc

Courageous as its namesake , C. vernus‘Jeanne d’Arc ’ is snow - white and superfluous audacious , thriving in Zones 3 to 9 .

set this Dutch form by herself for a arresting field of wan blooms , or combine with ‘ Pickwick , ’ described below , for a pleasing colour combination .

‘ Jeanne d’Arc ’

A close up of the light purple flowers of the ‘Blue Pearl’ variety of C. chrysanthus growing in the garden fading to soft focus in the background.

This flush reaches four to six inches in height and bags of 15 bulb areavailable at Burpee .

7. Orange Monarch

Do you dream of seeing a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies alight on pinkish tufts of milkweed?C. chrysanthus‘Orange Monarch ’ may be as close as you ’ll get .

And in your own garden , too !

These vivacious efflorescence flourish in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7 , so they ’re perfect for those of us who populate in chillier states .

A close up of ‘Firefly’ variety of C. sieberi with light purple flowers with bright yellow centers growing in bright sunshine with soil in soft focus in the background.

‘ Orange Monarch ’

But like all crocuses , they adore the sun , so ensure to implant them in a shining location . Plant in group of 20 to 50 corm for a spectacular spring show .

pack of 15 bulbs areavailable at Burpee .

A close up of the deep purple flowers of the ‘Flower Record’ variety of C. vernus growing in bright sunshine on a dark soft focus background.

8. Pickwick

With stalwart prime and a name reminiscent of the March sisters ’ gutsy Pickwick Club in Louisa May Alcott ’s Little Women , C. vernus‘Pickwick ’ feature lavender flower petal with delicate purple band running vertically up each bloom .

flora in the fall in Zones 3 to 9 for a gorgeous natural spring lawn . These blooms strive up to six column inch tall .

‘ Pickwick ’

A close up of the purple flowers with orange centers of the ‘Flower Record’ variety of C. vernus growing in the garden.

These would depend adorable in my backyard and remind me of my literary heroines to iron heel . Since they ’re not cervid - resistant , I ’ll have to institute them alongside ‘ Barr ’s Purple ’ or ‘ Firefly ’ tokeep my resident moose aside !

Find bags of 15 bulbs that ship in the fallfrom Burpee .

9. Saffron Crocus

Do you love using the spice , saffron , in everything from cakes to curry ? Then you ’ll make out this bright purple , fall - flower saffron crocus ( C. sativus ) .

Preferring USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9 , this variety grows foresightful red brand that you could harvest and lay out to dry in a warm room .

There are n’t different cultivars available for the home nurseryman of this species like there are of , say , C. crysanthus . This is due to the plant life in the main being get commercially as a spiciness , and becauseC. sativusis an whole hybridized plant .

A close up of the creamy white ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ variety of C. vernus growing in the garden in bright sunshine, with soil in soft focus in the background.

That say , each land that grows saffron commercially has its own cultivar : ‘ Aquila ’ in Italy , ‘ Creme ’ in Spain , and ‘ Lacha ’ in Kashmir .

C. sativus

Just about all saffron crocuses that you find in nurseries wo n’t say what cultivar it is . But they all get plant in late summer and will blossom in the capitulation .

A close up of the white flowers, with orange centers of the ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ variety of C. vernus growing in the garden.

The soft regal flowers grow up to four in tall .

Find packages of 10 , 20 , 50 , or 100 electric light that ship in late summer , in time for planting , from Eden Brothersand alsofrom She ’s Rooted Home .

Once planted , these spicy mantrap flower in just six to eight weeks . And voila , as well as enjoying the vivacious colors , you ’ve rise your own saffron !

A close up of a mass of ‘Orange Monarch’ flowers in their vivid yellow and deep red striped flowers surrounded by foliage in bright sunshine.

10. Tricolor

One of the very first crocus to bloom in the spring , C. sieberi‘Tricolor ’ boasts violet petal with livid and white-livered throats .

This flower favour zone 4 to 8 and is probable to push up through former - February snows .

‘ tricolour ’

A close up of the ‘Orange Monarch’ variety of C. chrysanthus growing in the garden fading to soft focus in the background.

Like all its crocus sibling , the ‘ Tricolor ’ crocus bask full sun or part shade and grows to a height of four to six inch .

Find bag of 15 bulbs during the summertime months , available at Burpee .

11. Yellow Mammoth

C. vernus‘Yellow Mammoth ’ crocus will make your backyard attend like a pond of sun – just when you need it the most .

Even better , this variety is cervid repellent , so you do n’t have to worry about backyard creatures crunch on your sunshine before you could relish it yourself .

In   zone 3 to 9 , plant these bulbs in the declination for an former - spring show .

A close up of ‘Pickwick’ flowers with light purple petals striped in deeper purple with bright yellow centers with foliage in soft focus in the background.

They fuck sunlight or part - shade , so check that to plant them in an open area or at the border of a knot of trees for a wild , natural look .

‘ Yellow Mammoth ’

maturate four to six inches tall , ‘ lily-livered Mammoth ’ is one of the larger varieties . Plant with helleboresfor a truly arresting leap display .

A close up of the ‘Pickwick’ variety of C. vernus with light purple flowers growing in the garden, fading to soft focus in the background.

you could buy a software of 15 bulbs that ship in the fall , from Burpee .

Mixed Cultivars

If , like me , you ca n’t determine which of the varieties described above will make it into your garden this year , why not try a commixture ?

Here are three of my favorites that you’re able to bestow to your landscape painting for a delightful raiment of colors , come spring .

1. Blue and Yellow Mix

For an additional stale - hardy , extra colorful early - springtime carpeting of color , plant thisC. Vernusblue and chickenhearted mixture in Zones 3 to 8 .

These prime will grow up to six inches grandiloquent and are drought tolerant , so if you live in a drying agent climate , they ’re idealistic .

Blue and Yellow Mix

A close up of a C. sativus flower with light purple striated petals and central yellow stamens and red saffron threads. In the background is soil in soft focus.

Like other Dutch varieties , these bloom in March or April , bet on your Zone .

feel cup of tea of 50 , 100 , and 250 bulbsavailable from Eden Brothers .

2. Blue Moon Mix

Another Dutch crocus mixture ( C. Vernus ) , this ashen , clear purple , and darker purple large - bloom blending of bulbs makes it loose to mix up the colors in your garden .

Blue Moon Mix

grow best in zona 3 to 8 , you may plant these bulbs in the fall for a March or April show that ’s reminiscent of a moony sky .

A close up of the purple flowers of C. sativus growing in the garden with long red stamens, surrounded by green foliage, fading to soft focus in the background.

Find travelling bag of 50 , 100 , and 250 bulbsthrough Eden Brothers .

3. Specie Mix

Though feature another somewhat dreary name for a far - from - dismal mix of bloom , this mix ofC. chrysanthusbulbs is one of the prettiest blends of blooms out there .

And it flowers two workweek in the first place thanC. vernus .

Combine both in your garden for at least a month of continuous blooming : first , two to three weeks of yourC. chrysanthusflowers .

A close up of the ‘Tricolor’ cultivar of C. sieberi growing in light sunshine in the garden surrounded by fallen leaves.

Just when those are beginning to give way back , yourC. vernusbulbs will flower .

Specie Mix

With deep majestic , white , light reddish blue , dark yellow , and light yellow snow crocus flush all combined , you ’re sure to experience jubilant when these pop out in your spring garden .

A close up of the ‘Tricolor’ variety of C. sieberi, light purple flowers with white and yellow centers, growing in the garden.

Grow them in zone 3 to 8 and expect them to strain height of four to six inches marvelous .

you could get find of 50 , 100 , and 250 bulbsavailable from Eden Brothers .

A Crocus for Everyone

As you’re able to see , there ’s a color and bloom available to just about everyone who hop to grow crocus in their outflow garden .

If you care one multifariousness this year , try adding a complementary color to your garden the next . And do n’t forget that most crocus varieties make out to manifold over time , providing you with an endless spread of former - leap color .

Even if you live somewhere crocus do n’t prosper outdoors , you caneasily force bulbs indoors .

A close up of the ‘Yellow Mammoth’ flower growing in bright sunshine in the garden on a soft focus background.

And do n’t block to check out our other article ongrowing crocus flowers :

© demand the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more contingent . intersection photos via Burpee , and Eden Brothers . Uncredited pic : Shutterstock . With additional writing and redaction by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .

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A close up of the bright yellow blooms of the ‘Yellow Mammoth’ cultivar of C. vernus growing in the garden.

Laura Ojeda Melchor

A close up of the blue and yellow flowers of C. vernus growing in the garden.

A close up of white, light purple, and dark purple flowers of C. vernus growing in the garden in spring.

A close up of dark purple, light purple, and yellow flowers growing in a spring garden with a light dusting of snow on the ground.