Crocus Yalta

Crocus 'Yalta' is a unique variety of "mammoth" crocus bearing large, dark purple and bluish-ivory bicoloured flowers at the end of winter. Perfect for brightening up the winter gloom in lawns, rock gardens, and planters.

'Yalta' is a variety derived from Crocus vernus, the spring crocus, a perennial plant with a corm from the Iridaceae family. Like many horticultural hybrids with spring flowering, this variety produces large flowers. The species itself is native to central and eastern Europe and is extremely hardy. 'Yalta' forms a clump of dark green linear leaves with a white median, from which solitary flowers emerge in February-March, arising from a whitish spathe, about 10cm (4in) tall. On each corolla, the combination of dark purple blue and bluish ivory white is superb. The flowers close at night and in bad weather, opening in the sun to reveal bright orange stamens.

Crocuses are undisputed stars of the garden, as they are the first heralds of spring. 'Yalta' takes over from the flowering of Crocus chrysanthus, for example. When planted in large groups, it forms magnificent carpets of colour in lawns and wakes up rockeries. It also grows very well in pots or planters, to brighten up patios. Crocuses prefer to stay in place where they easily naturalise and expand year after year. Do not remove the leaves until they have yellowed and withered. The leaves help the bulbs replenish their reserves for future flowering.

There are also autumn-flowering crocuses, such as saffron or colchicums, which are equally charming and easy to grow.