Crocus cartwrightianus
| Flowering Time |
Autumn |
|
Distribution |
Greece |
|
Native Climate |
Mediterranean |
|
Wild Habitat |
Rocky hillsides, in scrub or thin woodland |
|
Distinctive Features |
Three long bright red style branches. Flowers stay open at night. Finely fibrous corm tunic, reticulated |
|
Closest Relatives |
|
|
Cultivation Requirements |
Warm dryish summer rest. Winter protection best away from native region. |
|
Availability |
Usually available from specialist bulb suppliers. White form in commerce |
Very variable in flower colour and markings, almost all forms are very attractive when in flower. The style branches can be harvested for use as saffron. It is thought that Crocus sativus (cultivated for saffron) is a selection of Crocus cartwrightianus. Crocus tournefortii is the only other species whose flowers remain open at night. It is likely that these two, which have an overlapping distribution are pollinated by night flying insects (moths?).
