Crocuses are such brilliant and beautiful flowers that one need not occupy space with their praises. Their use in beds, borders, pots, or in grass is necessary if we are to enjoy our gardens to the full. While the popular Dutch varieties, whose names will be found in any bulb catalogue, will retain their place in the garden, they will be largely supplemented by the different species by whose aid the interest in these flowers will be much increased. By their help we can not only extend the Crocus season, so as to have flowers in autumn and winter as well as in spring, but they will also give us new colours and markings of much beauty. The autumn Crocuses are of much value. The earliest is C. vallicola, with creamy flowers, but it is not very hardy and wants a frame. Speciosus and its larger form Aitchisoni are of great service with their blue-purple blooms. Zonatus, pulchellus, iridiflorus, and iridiflorus major are all good, as also are lævigatus, cancellatus, with its variety asturicus, hadriaticus, medius, nudiflorus, ochroleucus, Salzmanni, and Tournefortii. Sativus, the old Saffron Crocus, is showy, but is a shy bloomer in most gardens. Its forms, cartwrightianus, elwesianus, and Pallasii are better flowerers. Scharojani should have a frame. White varieties of some of these Croci are highly prized.
The winter-flowering Croci are also very beautiful, and with the protection of a little glass over them in bad weather will give much pleasure, especially in December or January, when other out-door flowers are scarce. Chrysanthus, which varies much in colour; Imperati, a valuable species; the charming Sieberi, dalmaticus, etruscus, Gaillardotti, the yellow Korolkowii, nevadensis, the orange suterianus, and the pretty suaveolens, might be included and protected by glass covers from the storms.
Following these come the spring Croci: aureus, said to be the parent of the Dutch yellow, giving us shades of some variety; while biflorus yields some very beautiful forms, such as argenteus, estriatus, Pestalozzœ, pusillus, and Weldeni. Then, apart from the Dutch varieties, vernus gives a number of forms, George Maw, Leedsi, leucorhynchus, leucostigma, and Petro Polowsky being among the most distinct of these. Alatavicus, ancyrensis, banaticus, Balansæ, corsicus, Fleischeri, gargaricus, Malyi, Olivieri, reticulatus, stellaris, susianus, the varied versicolor, and the charming tommasinianus will give many exquisite pictures. These will give little trouble if planted, in early autumn, about three inches deep in rather light, peaty soil. Growing Crocuses from seed is very interesting work, and may be productive of excellent results. Crocuses in pots should be planted close together, and the pots plunged outside until growth begins.
CHAPTER V
HARDY BULBS
Cyclamens — Dicentras — Dieramas — Eranthis — Eremuruses — Erythroniums — Eucomises
Cyclamens
The hardy Cyclamens or Sowbreads are charming little flowers which grow well under the shade of trees or in the rock-garden. They like a rich, but light soil, with a few stones mixed with it, and to be planted an inch or two beneath the surface. The earliest and one of the best is C. Coum, which has pretty crimson flowers about January. There are a pleasing white variety and a few other colours such as rose and lilac. Libanoticum is later and has large flowers and leaves. Ibericum succeeds these, and the Atkinsi varieties are very beautiful, in various shades from white to purple. Cilicicum and alpinum are tiny little species with red or white flowers and small leaves, and are best suited for the rock-garden. Europæum, red or lilac, in August, is more difficult to grow, but likes shade and partial covering with a low carpeting plant. The best of the late species is neapolitanum, or hederæfolium, which has prettily marked leaves succeeding the red or white flowers which come in autumn. These plants can be raised from seeds sown as soon as ripe, or in spring.
Dicentras
A few of the tuberous-rooted Dicentras or Dielytras deserve mention here. Among them are Cucullaria, white and yellow, and about three inches high; and spectabilis, a well-known and handsome plant, which needs shelter from cold spring winds. They like a light, peaty soil and some shade.
Dieramas