CROCUS 'ORANGE MONARCH'

Image credit - http://highergroundgardens.com/

The crocus 'Orange Monarch' is lauded as the world's only truly orange crocus. But how orange is it? Well that remains to be seen as there are few images available and I have yet to see them in anyone's garden. This is because it as brand new cultivar which only became available on the market in the autumn of 2012.

Credit - http://www.notcutts.co.uk/

Be that as it may, I have put my money where my mouth is, purchased some and planted them in the garden.

Unfortunately, like everyone else I will have to wait until the early spring before I find out for sure.

That aside, the richness of colour shown for crocus 'Orange Monarch' is utterly gorgeous and definitely worth a risk when a packet of ten corms retails at only a few pounds.

But there is a problem. Other than the main photograph shown above, all other images look distinctly yellowish!

This will be due to two things. Either the main photograph has been colour adjusted (the most likely explanation) to make it look more orange than it really is, or the strength of orange pigment is affected by the acidity and/or nutrient mix of the soil.

How to grow crocus

Crocus corms - image credit http://www.srgc.org.uk/

Crocus are usually purchased a corms in the autumn and can be planted in almost any soil, provided that it is well drained. they are best grown in rock gardens, but can be used as edgings to flower or shrub borders.

They are at their best planted in groups beneath deciduous shrubs or trees, or entirely in the open so that they can benefit from any available warmth and protection from the wind. This will help to encourage the flowers to open as soon and as often as possible

Crocuses are best planted as soon as possible approximately 2-3 inches deep. In lighter soils they can be planted deeper to 6 inches where summer cultivation may disturb dormant corms. Space the corms 3-4 inches apart.

Resist removing the flowers as they die back and do not knot the leaves into bunches as some gardeners do for daffodils. Leave the leaves where they are until they turn yellow at which point they should easily pull away from the base.

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