Other Names:  Dwarf Spiderwort, Prairie Crocus, Spiderwort

Description:

This selection is an excellent plant for borders, rock gardens, and massed as groundcover; a prolific bloomer with beautiful violet-purple flowers accented with bright yellow stamens; narrow mounded foliage is mid-green and attractive

Ornamental Features

Wild Crocus has masses of beautiful clusters of purple flowers with violet overtones at the ends of the stems from mid to late spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its tomentose narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Wild Crocus is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Wild Crocus is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Wild Crocus will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.