Snow crocus (Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant')
The striking Snow crocus, Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant', offers deep violet-purple blooms early in spring. This low-maintenance bulb naturalizes readily.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Snow crocus, scientifically known as Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’, is a highly valued herald of spring, often appearing while snow is still on the ground. Gardeners prize this variety for its early bloom time and the rich, deep violet-purple color of its star-shaped flowers. Unlike later Dutch hybrids, this Snow crocus is among the first floral color cues following winter dormancy.
This charming bulb develops quickly, reaching only a few inches in height but forming increasingly large colonies over time as it naturally multiplies. Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ thrives in sunny spots but tolerates light shade, making it versatile for naturalizing under deciduous trees or within manicured lawns. Its ease of care and ability to naturalize make it a superb, low-effort addition to the early season landscape.
The reliable performance and pest resistance of Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ ensure a spectacular showing year after year. These tiny beacons of color provide crucial early sustenance for emerging pollinators, making them functionally important as well as aesthetically delightful. Plan your planting in the fall to ensure a burst of color right at winter’s end.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Iridaceae
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Bloom Time: March
- Bloom Description: Deep violet-purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ corms should occur in the autumn before the ground freezes hard. Select a location that receives full sun to partial shade, as they perform best with ample light to fuel their early bloom. The soil is a critical factor; these bulbs thrive in average, well-drained conditions, ideally sandy or gritty. If working with heavy clay, amend the planting area heavily with sand to ensure excellent drainage, as poor drainage leads quickly to corm rot. Set corms approximately 3 to 4 inches deep and space them 3 to 6 inches apart for eventual drift formation.
Care for these early bloomers is impressively simple. They require medium moisture while actively growing, usually supplied naturally by late winter or early spring rains. Fertilization is rarely necessary if the soil quality is adequate or if the bulbs are naturalizing in a lawn setting. Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ goes dormant relatively early by late spring, signaling the closing of the growing season.
A key care tip involves the foliage if you plant the Snow crocus in the lawn. Resist the urge to mow over the emerging leaves immediately after flowering ceases. Allow the foliage to remain completely untouched until it naturally yellows, which takes about 6 weeks post-bloom. This period is essential for the plant to store energy in the corm for next year’s display. Because this cultivar is often sterile, reliance is placed on existing plantings producing offsets and self-seeding to increase colony size.
Landscape Uses
The primary application for Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ is creating large, sweeping drifts where their massed color can be most effective. They excel when naturalized directly into lawns, brightening turf areas before the first major spring mowing. Look to mass plant them beneath deciduous trees, where they receive full sun in early spring before the canopy leafs out, and enjoy dappled shade during the summer dormancy period.
For more formal settings, these bulbs are excellent for borders along walkways or tucked into rock gardens where the sharp drainage mimics their native hillside habitats. Group them near the front of shrub beds to provide essential early color that contrasts sharply against dormant woody stems. Since they are short-lived in bloom, consider pairing them with other early spring bulbs that emerge later, like daffodils or late-blooming tulips, to ensure continuous seasonal interest.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Crocus tommasinianus originates from woodland areas and hillsides spanning from southern Hungary into the northern Balkans, contributing to its early emergence, which earns it the common name Snow crocus. It displays long-tubed, goblet-shaped flowers with white throats, although the ‘Ruby Giant’ cultivar features striking, star-shaped, deep violet-purple flowers accented by bright yellow-orange anthers. This bloom period typically precedes that of the taller, more common Dutch hybrid crocuses, offering gardeners a vital burst of color in late winter to early spring.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Black Walnut
Potential Problems
One of the major advantages of growing Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ is the minimal pest pressure they experience. They are generally free from serious insect or disease issues, which simplifies maintenance considerably. While many spring bulbs are tempting to rodents, Deer tend to avoid grazing on crocus foliage and flowers; furthermore, these plants demonstrate tolerance to black walnut root exudates, a common challenge for other species.
Squirrels, mice, and voles can sometimes disturb corms, especially immediately after planting, as they dig for the newly buried treasures. The reported lower incidence of rodent damage compared to other crocus species offers some reassurance. To mitigate potential digging, you can plant the corms deeper than recommended or consider covering the planting area temporarily with chicken wire until new growth emerges in the spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Snow crocus suitable for?
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Snow crocus grow?
This species is quite short, typically reaching a height between 0.25 and 0.5 feet, with a similar spread of 0.25 to 0.5 feet.
When does Snow crocus bloom?
The bloom time for Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ is usually in March, producing deep violet-purple flowers.
What sun exposure does Snow crocus need?
This variety performs well in settings ranging from full sun to areas receiving part shade.
Conclusion
For gardeners seeking reliable, low-maintenance color exactly when the landscape needs it most, the Snow crocus is an essential choice. The rich, deep hue of the ‘Ruby Giant’ cultivar stands out against late winter landscapes, and its naturalizing habit ensures expanding displays over time. Check your USDA hardiness zone compatibility and plan to plant these tiny bulbs this coming fall for an immediate reward next spring.
Companion Planting
When planning garden layouts featuring the early bloom of Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’, consider companions that emerge slightly later or that offer textural contrast. Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) are excellent partners, as they share similar low-growing habits, prefer the same spring sun exposure, and often bloom concurrently or just after the Crocus. Due to the rapid fading of Snow crocus foliage, pairing them with later-emerging, taller bulb foliage, such as that of mid-season Daffodils (Narcissus), helps mask the yellowing leaves.
For areas under trees where Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ is naturalized, ensure your companion plants also tolerate partial shade once the tree canopy fills in. Hostas or small, shade-loving perennials that emerge later in spring can be situated slightly further out from the main crocus drift. Because this plant tolerates Black Walnut, choosing other tolerant groundcovers or shrubs for surrounding areas will ensure a healthy, cohesive planting scheme.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Autumn (Planting): This is the critical time for Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’. Plant corms 3-4 inches deep. Ensure soil drainage is excellent, incorporating sand or grit if necessary to prevent rot over winter. Do not over-fertilize at planting time.
Late Winter/Early Spring (Bloom): Monitor conditions closely, as bloom time is dictated by warmth. Keep children and pests away during flowering. If planted in lawns, restrict foot traffic over the emerging foliage until blooming is complete.
Late Spring (Foliage Dormancy): The most crucial post-bloom task is patience. Absolutely refrain from mowing or cutting back the leaves until they have fully yellowed, which can take up to six weeks. This allows the bulb to replenish its energy stores necessary for future seasons of color.
