This cheerful early-spring crocus produces striking tri-coloured flowers – soft lavender-purple petals fading to white, with a vivid golden-yellow throat. Compact and hardy, it’s perfect for pots, window boxes, and garden borders, bringing colour just as winter begins to loosen its grip. A wonderful early nectar source for pollinators emerging in late winter.
Perennial
Bulbous, Compact, Early Spring Flowering
Flowers: February – March
Foliage: February – April
Scientific Name
Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolour’ (named after Franz Sieber, a 19th-century Bohemian botanist and plant collector)
Common Name
Sieber’s Crocus, Tricolour Crocus
Origin
Native to southern Greece, particularly mountainous regions, where it grows in rocky meadows and open woodland
Pruning Tips
Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering. Do not cut leaves until they have fully yellowed – this allows the bulb to store energy for next year’s blooms. Remove spent flowers to keep pots looking tidy.
Wildlife Value
An excellent early nectar source for bees and other pollinators emerging on mild late-winter days.
Positioning
Full sun to light shade. In pots, place somewhere bright and sheltered – a doorstep, patio, or windowsill is ideal. Outdoors, plant in borders, rockeries, or naturalise in lawns (avoid mowing until foliage has died back).
Water
Keep compost lightly moist while in growth and flowering. Avoid waterlogging, particularly in pots – good drainage is essential. Once foliage dies back, reduce watering significantly.
Soil
Free-draining compost is essential. In pots, use a loam-based or general-purpose compost with added grit for improved drainage. In borders, ensure soil does not sit wet over winter.
Food
A light feed with a balanced fertiliser as foliage emerges can support strong flowering. Avoid overfeeding.
Pet-safe
Crocus bulbs can cause mild stomach upset if ingested. Keep away from pets and children.
Sprouts Top Tips
After flowering, move pots somewhere sunny and continue watering lightly until the leaves naturally fade – this helps ensure a beautiful display again next spring.
