Romance Crocus Bulbs

Planting Instructions for Romance Crocus

1. When to Plant: Plant Romance Crocus bulbs in the fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before your first frost. This gives the bulbs time to grow roots before the ground freezes, and the winter cold is what prompts them to bloom in late winter to very early spring. Plant as soon as you can after the bulbs arrive so they do not dry out in storage.
2. Choosing the Right Location: Choose a spot in full sun with well-drained soil, since plenty of light helps the soft yellow flowers open wide and encourages the bulbs to multiply. Areas under deciduous trees work well because the branches are still bare while crocus blooms. Avoid low spots where water sits after rain, as soggy ground can rot the bulbs. Romance Crocus grows in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
3. Planting Depth and Spacing: Plant each bulb 3 to 4 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart with the pointed tip facing up. Crocuses look best in generous groups or clusters rather than single rows, so scatter the 25-pack in loose drifts along the front of borders, in rock gardens, near walkways, or under the turf of a lawn for a natural carpet of color.
4. Watering After Planting: Water thoroughly right after planting to settle the soil around the bulbs and start root growth. Keep the soil lightly moist during dry fall weather until the ground freezes, but never soggy. Once winter arrives, the bulbs need no extra water until they begin growing again in late winter.

Care Instructions

1. Watering: Water during dry spells while the foliage and flowers are up in late winter and early spring. Romance Crocus is quite drought tolerant once established, so natural rainfall is usually enough. Stop watering once the leaves yellow and the bulbs go dormant for summer, since dry summer soil helps prevent rot.
2. Fertilizing: Crocuses need very little feeding. If your soil is poor, sprinkle a bulb fertilizer or a little compost over the planting area in fall or as the shoots appear in late winter. Avoid high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer directly on the bulbs, which encourages leaves over flowers.
3. Pest Monitoring: Squirrels, chipmunks, and voles sometimes dig up freshly planted crocus bulbs. If they are a problem in your yard, lay a piece of hardware cloth or chicken wire over the planting area until the ground freezes, then remove it before the shoots emerge. Good drainage is the best defense against bulb rot.

After Blooming

1. Foliage Care: After the flowers fade, leave the grassy leaves in place until they turn yellow on their own. The foliage feeds the bulbs for next year's bloom. In lawns, wait to mow those areas until the crocus leaves have yellowed, which is usually about 6 weeks after flowering ends.
2. Naturalizing: Romance Crocus is a perennial bulb that comes back every year in Zones 4 through 9 and naturally multiplies over time, spreading into larger clumps and drifts. Leave plantings undisturbed so they can spread for many seasons. If a clump becomes very crowded and flowers less, dig and divide it in summer after the foliage dies back.

Additional Tips for Growing Romance Crocus

1. Great Companions: Pair Romance Crocus with other early bloomers such as snowdrops and scilla for a fuller late winter display. The pale buttery-yellow petals with warm golden centers blend well with white, purple, and blue spring flowers, so mixed drifts look natural and cheerful when most of the garden is still dormant.
2. Growing in Pots: Romance Crocus is well suited to pots and window boxes where you can enjoy the petite 4 to 6 inch flowers up close. Use a container with drainage holes and a well-draining mix. Keep the pot in a cool, sheltered spot over winter so the bulbs get their chill without the pot freezing solid.
3. Pet Safety: Like most spring bulbs, crocus bulbs can cause stomach upset if pets dig them up and chew them. Plant where dogs are less likely to dig, and contact your veterinarian if a pet eats any part of the plant.