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Crocus Pages by Tony Goode
Species Crocus species

Crocus sieberi sublimis

Flowering Time

Spring

Distribution

Greece; Macedonia; S Albania; S Bulgaria

Native Climate

Montane Mediterranean (Winter snow cover)

Wild Habitat

Short mountain turf or open woodland

Distinctive Features

Flower lilac blue, sometimes with darker tips. May have a white zone between lilac petals and yellow throat.   Corm tunic finely netted fibres

Closest Relatives

Crocus sieberi atticus

Crocus sieberi nivalis

Crocus sieberi sieberi

Cultivation Requirements

Tolerant of summer moisture in well drained soil

Availability

Widely available from specialist bulb suppliers. The cultivar 'Tricolor' is a selection of this subspecies now cheaply available from garden retail outlets

Distinguished from subspecies atticus and nivalis by the clear presence of hairs in the throat of the flower.   Along with subspecies sublimis it is a plant of high mountains, often flowering near melting snow.   Subspecies atticus and sieberi are plants of lower altitudes.

Crocus sieberi sublimis

Crocus sieberi sublimis

Seed raised Crocus sieberi sublimis showing some variation in flower colour.   See below for the flowers open and a larger close up.

Crocus sieberi sublimis

Crocus sieberi sublimis