Crocus

Cróca
Latin name: Crocus

There are about 80 different varieties of crocuses e.g. spring crocus, early crocus, autumn crocus.

They come in lots of different colours. The most common colours are lilac, purple, yellow and white. The crocus has a cup-shaped head.

Spring crocus
©Jenny Seawright

Spring crocuses are the most common species in Ireland.

These flowers usually have white petals with stripes of dark purple. Their stem is also a purple colour. They are very easy to recognise.

Early crocuses also grow in Ireland. They grow at a different time of year to the spring crocuses.

They start peeping out of the ground in late winter to early spring. The stem of the early crocus is white.

Crocuses can live in a lots of different habitats. They grow in scrubland, woodlands and meadows.

They are hardy flowers. They are covered in a waxy layer. This protects them from the frost.