Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Do crocus change colour?

marcello.marcello. Posts: 5
edited 25 February in Plants
Hi there, happy to make my first posting as a gardening newbie :)
I planted a few crocus chrysanthus blue pearl in autumn, or at least, that‘s what the package said. Now they are coming out, however, all are purple instead of white-blueish. Has anyone had similar experiences? I found out that the blue and purple colour in crocus are anthocyans, which can change the colour depending on the pH. I didn‘t measure the pH, but the border is next to the street and wasn‘t protected from dog urine etc. for years. So pH could definitely be off from normal values.

Looking forward to your answers :)

Marcello

«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @marcello. -  it's more likely that they've been mis named. It does happen unfortunately.
    Those look like C. tommasinianus.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • marcello.marcello. Posts: 5
    That was fast, thanks :)

    Damn, I was hoping I can do something against it or that they might look different next year :( They are beautiful, but I wanted to have a combination of white crocus with a hint of blue and the deep blue of Scilla siberica. 
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    Fairygirl is probably right. I’ve had a few wrongly described plants over the years. It’s especially annoying if it happens with a tree or shrub and you don’t find out until they’re established and the flowers or fruit are not as expected. 
    It’s not always bad though. I bought a pink floribunda rose from the just about dead, bargain section in a garden centre 20 years ago and it now rambles over my copper beech arch with a profusion of apricot flowers every year.😁
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's one of those things that happens @marcello. . It's annoying when you have a plan though!
    I tend to buy from reliable sellers whenever possible, as it can then be easier to get a refund or replacement etc, and buying anything while in flower is always the best method if possible, but it's more difficult with bulbs, or anything deciduous when dormant,  because you do have to wait a while to see what they look like.
    If you think that's what's happened, it's worth contacting the seller, adding the photos, and proof of purchase, and just asking nicely if you've received the wrong product.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DaveGreig They look like C tommasinianus to me as well. This particular crocus can be invasive if planted in certain conditions. It is often used for naturalising.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    C. tommasinianus spreads pretty well here. It seeds around - they pop up all over including in the lawn. I don't mind them and the foliage dies down quite quickly.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    All my colourful ones eventually go purple. Perhaps this colour is due to a dominant gene. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    More likely that the others die, or are eaten and the purple ones seed around.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think purple may be the dominant gene certainly the case with sweet peas and Aquilegias.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Truly blue flowers are quite rare. However purpley-mauve flowers which are CLAIMED to be 'blue' are incredibly common. I think Crocus 'Blue Pearl' is actually in the latter camp, and your bulbs are probably true, even if the name is slightly misleading. This is how Parkers Bulbs show 'Blue Pearl', which is more purply than most of the other photos online, and I suspect more accurate. 

    Crocus chrysanthus Blue Pearl J Parker Dutch Bulbs
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
Sign In or Register to comment.