Crocus korolkowii - is a perennial ephemeroid plant that belongs to the Peony family. This is one of the most cold-resistant crocuses!
Appearance
Flowers appear immediately after the snow melts! They are elegant, glossy, yellow with a red or dark brown spot. They consist of six petals. The anther is orange. Flower size - 2-5 cm. The leaves are narrow-linear, grooved, in a basal rosette, about 5 cm long. The leaves are dark green. Leaves begin to grow from the bulb during flowering, and fully develop after flowering.
Bulbs are oblong-globose, slightly flattened. The tunic is membranous, fine-fibrous, forming a net. This crocus tolerates cold snowy winters and dry summers well. It grows in sun and partial shade, in well-drained soils. Flowering time - early April.
Planting. Any soils can be used for planting, but they must be well-drained. Crocuses do not grow in acidic soils. Choose a sunny or partial shade location for planting. Crocuses look great in groups on borders, in rock gardens, on lawns. You can create whimsical patterns with them. Crocus bulbs are planted from September to December. Prepare the soil for planting in advance. Loosen it to a depth of 30 cm, then add compost. Since bulbous plants are too sensitive to moisture, they can be planted in sand. To do this, dig a hole with a flat bottom and a size, for example, 5 cm wide and 30 cm long. Then pour a thin layer of sand all around the perimeter, no more than 2 cm high. Place the bulbs on top of the sand, with the pointed ends facing up. Then carefully fill the hole with earth, without compacting it. The planting depth should be equal to two bulb heights. The planting distance between bulbs is 3 to 10 cm.
Care. Crocuses are undemanding in care. They do not need to be watered. They get enough moisture from the soil after the snow melts. Fresh manure is contraindicated for crocuses. Every 4-5 years, crocus "nests" need to be divided. If necessary, flowering crocuses can be transplanted (with a lump of earth).