Spring Crocus

Blue-violet spring blooming carpets

During a spring walk through nature, there is hardly a place in Slovenia where the beautiful violet displays of spring crocuses have not painted the landscape.

Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)

Size	8–15 cm
Blooming period	March–May
Growing site	meadows, forests, parks, orchards, gardens
Distrbution	everywhere in Slovenia, most rarely in Prekmurje

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	angiosperm
Class	monocotyledon
Order	Asparagales
Family	Iridaceae
Genus	Crocus
Species	Spring crocus

In Slovenia, two subspecies of spring crocus grow. The most common is the violet-flowered crocus, while the white-flowered subspecies – the "nunka" or white crocus – thrives in the Alpine-Dinaric regions.

Spring crocus most commonly appears in purple shades.

Crocus is one of the most common spring plants, growing on meadows, along and in forests, as well as in domestic orchards or gardens.

Like other species of crocus, the spring crocus does not have a developed above-ground stem, so its tubular flower, measuring 3 to 5 centimeters in length, grows directly from the tuber and has six petals . The three stamens are shorter than the style. The dark green leaves of the spring crocus are long and narrow, with a white-silver stripe running along their entire length. The spring crocus is poisonous.

In Slovenia, two subspecies of spring crocus grow. In addition to the violet-flowered variety, the white-flowered subspecies, known as nunka or the white crocus, thrives in the Alpine-Dinaric regions.

You can hardly miss the spring crocus during a walk. On Pokljuka, every year, you are welcomed by a real blue-violet carpet of these flowers.

DO YOU KNOW?

A relative of 'our' spring crocus is the saffron crocus, which blooms in the autumn. The latter remains one of the most expensive spices in the world to this day. This is also where the expression 'as expensive as saffron' comes from.
Spring crocus and white crocus are not used in herbal medicine. However, saffron crocus is used for such purposes.