Crocus, Gigantic White Autumn – 1 per bag

Crocus are native the Mediterranean and parts of Asia and are among the oldest of cultivated bulbs. They are actually members of the Iris family. Most Fall Crocus are Colchicum. The name comes from the word Colchis which was the name of an ancient kingdom considered to be the home of all sorcery. The first plants were said to have sprung up from drops of a potion brewed by Medea, the daughter of the king of Colchis who created the potion to restore youth to her aging father. The plants have always been prized for their medicinal abilities. They contain the chemical colchicine which has been used for centuries to cure gout.

The White Autumn Crocus is a legendary plant developed in the late 1800s by a nursery in Yorkshire, England. Its large, pure white blooms are considered by many to be the finest of all fall blooming crocus. E.A. Bowles, a famous Edwardian gardener stated, “Cannot be equaled for beauty in the late fall.” When it was first offered for sale in the late 19th century, it sold for the outrageous price of $7 a bulb. Plant 4 in. deep and about 6 in. apart. They do best in full sun, but can tolerate light shade.