RARE BULB NURSERY. LATVIA
by Dr. Janis Ruksans & Liga Popova

This year I separated Alliums from America into own chapter - offered species are very good growers in pots and excellent show plants due compact, dwarf habit. Some are good growers in garden as well. Dry flower-balls in seed are good for small flower-arrangements.

An outstanding small onion that one can hardly miss in May when travelling through the volcanic plains and foothills of the Northwest USA. The up to 7 cm large heads, with the tepals gracefully curling outward as they taper to sharp points, are on up to 15 cm long scapes. Flowers variably dark red-violet to purplish. In wild on shallow, silty, clay soils among volcanic outcrops, here good grower in standart potting mix.

Numerous white flowers, suffused pink on the mid-vein, in a dense head on a 30 cm tall stem. Early summer. One of the easiest of N American species. The stock originates from Walker Ridge, the North Coast Ranges in California.

Similar to A. campanullatum but with flowers not spreading flat. Numerous narrow tepalled reddish, up-turned blossoms are arranged in open 2.5 - 5 cm heads on 15 - 22 cm scapes. Even dry flowers keep their purple colouring.

The urn-shaped, red-purple flowers with tapered and reflexed tips are presented on long pedicels in an open umbel on 15cm long scapes. A delicate and attractive onion. From gravely, clay soils on open slopes. Tepals of var. mirabile are lanceolate.

This is one of the brightest purple forms of this variable species. Our stock is grown from seeds collected in the Northern Sierra Nevada Range in California at 1100-1200 m where it grows in very exposed conditions. In nature almost stemless, here nice heads arise on stems not higher than 15 cm.

A rhizomatous cluster of bulbs produce a clump of pale green leaves and several 15-25cm long scapes. The spreading perianth consists of broadly elliptical tepals that are white with pale rose midveins. The pedicels are short creating a compact spherical inflorescence. Likes summer watering.

An excellent American species with many-flowered dense umbels of white large flowers with exserted stamens on stout 30 cm tall stems. From the Western Transverse Ranges where it grows at 1600 m on bare slopes in a very fine silty soil.

Loose umbels of white to pale pink flowers on 15-25 cm stems. From sandy granite soils in Sierra Nevada, in vernally moist places. Very adaptable, multiplies rapidly in garden.

Very floriferous with white to pale lavender-pink, star-shaped flowers in 7 cm large starbursts on up to 20 cm long scape. The spreading, elliptical tepals has pale ovaries which are ringed with purple. This pretty allium has a wide distribution over Northern California, but is rarely encountered. Good grower and increaser here. Grown in pots makes excellent exhibition entry.

A large flowered species from California with bright pink to rose-purple perianths in 7 cm large umbels on 20-25 cm scapes. The tepals are in two distinct series with the inner tepals enclosing the cream-colored anthers in an urn-like floret. The broader, outer tepals form a bowl-like floret surrounding the inner tepals. Not very sel;ective relating soil - there are populations growing on dry sandy soils developed from eroded granite and on heavy clay grounds. During summer rest needs dry conditions, so growable only in pots.

This population has white to light pinkish flowers, there can be even over 100 flowers in inflorescence between two sickle-shaped leaves, with aging turns pink. From Owyhee highlands in Idaho where it is growing at altitudes 1700-2000 m. In wild on well drained, gritty clay grounds, Not difficult in cultivation. Can be grown in outside gardens rockery as well as in pots.

In this chapter included majority of Allium species grown by me and they are very variable - from dwarf and excellent pot and rockery species up to 1.5 m tall "giants" for garden, cut flowers, flower arrangements and some even for cooking as well. As almost all Allium species - their dry seedpods are excellent in flower arrangements and can last in vase without water for years.

Although something similar to Allium nevskianum both species are easy separable - after anthesis the tepals of A. alexeianum become stiff and prickly, and those of A. nevskianum remain soft becoming only crumbled. True A. alexeianum growth on central parts of Turkestan and Zaravshan mountain ranges and our stock was collected on very hard clay ground at Zaamin.

A slender, up to 1 m tall species producing a dense umbel of small but very numerous purplish pink flowers. A long lasting flower display in early summer. From Antalya area in southern Turkey.

Tall growing species with large tight umbel of white flowers found by me together with Arnis Seisums during our ascend to heights of Kugart in Khirghizia when we searched for Iris winkleri. Up to 1 m high, good grower. Very high taxed by florists, not for it's pure white flowers, but for the huge green seedheads that form after the flowers have wither. Small stock.

Flowers are creamy white stars in tightly clustered 7-10 cm large umbels and with deep ruby hearts. Altogether enchanting. Sweetly fragrant and highly attractive to butterflies and visitors of your garden. Very good chance to get healthy stock of this beauty of different style. Height around 50 cm. It comes from Israel.

Very nice and dwarf Allium from very high altitudes in Iran, collected on mountain pass S of Hamedan over Ganjameh waterfall, at 3000 m altitude on steep slopes covered with small flat boulders and dwarf spiny shrubs. Good grower. On pictures it in blooms (cultivated) and in leaves as was found in nature.

This nice Turkish species originally was collected by Archibald, Seisums & Stevens in E Turkey - NW of Tunceli to Ovacik at 1000m altitude on openings among deciduous scrub on steep slopes. A relative of A. orientale and A. kharputense with 2 notably broad basal leaves. Hemisphaerical umbels of widely campanulate white flowers, usually with purple midveins on the segments, carried on sturdy, 15cm. long stems

Large starry bright violet-purple flowers in a huge, lax umbel 20 - 30 cm in diameter on comparatively short stem. Those are seedlings from plants originally collected by me in Iran on Kopet-Dag mountains in 2008, so the flower colour is something variable. Prefers well drained, sunny position. Excellent!

Flowers slightly greenish white, all faced upwards, in a dense very showy umbel on a 40 cm long stem. Very beautiful well growing species collected in Varsob valley, Tajikistan (RM-8274).

This form markedly differs from existing stocks in having bright reddish purple flowers in a large umbel up to 20 cm in diameter on a 20-30 (!) cm long stem, which raises the flower head well above the leaves. A true gem named by me in honour of my great friend and travel companion Henrik Zetterlund as subsp. henrikii but DNA showed very minor differences from typical karataviense, so name was changed to cultivar level. From Tovaksai, the Karzhantau mnt. range, E of Tashkent.

I discovered this unusual Allium species growing wild on almost bare shaly slopes during my first trip to Iran. I immediately understood that it is new species, and really, only 2 years later it was published by Reinhard Fritsch. Its name means "Onion from white hills". Regardless of harsh conditions in the wild, it is good grower in my collection, having very unusually shaped leaves. On pictures you can see its leaves, flowers and how joyful I was finding it.

Flowers unusually bright blue, violet-veined in tight umbels held on 40 cm tall stems. An excellent contender to the well-known A. caeruleum with its brusque colour and the delicate overall appearance. From Sari-Chilek.

It is very rare endemic from Crimean peninsula, Ukraina (temporarily occupied by Russia), close relative of Allium siculus, but far more spectacular and not so high, stems reach 50-70 cm. Bulbs have very unplesant smell, but you can feel it only at replanting.

Narrowly linear leaves, a first prostrate and later ascending, thin scape, and large flowers showing a very specific broad shape of tepals characterize this small species. Allium oreophilum is a very variable species concerning stature of the plants, shape and colour of leaf. Flowers generally are very bright reddish purple, although between my seedlings rarely appear individuals with very soft light pink flower colour. Offered stock is dwarf and with very bright flower colour and something curled leaves. Flowers tested as food had a very pleasant taste and are useful as spice.

One of the alliums suitable for both – ornamental purposes and cooking. Flowers late in the season with white florets in dense, globose umbels on 1 m tall hollow stems nicely inflated below the middle. Dry stems are suitable for flower arrangements, too. Fully hardy here.

Flowers large, narrowly cup-shaped, purplish violet on a 40-50 cm stem. Similar to A. cupuliferum, but the umbel is more compact and the shape of the leaves is different. The Fergana mnt. range. According to R. Fritsch, it in fact is neither A. winklerianum nor pseudowinklerianum. Most likely a new very nice species.

From Akbulak valley in Uzbekistan, where it was collected at altitude of 1500m. Stem reaches 80 cm height, medium early, flowers are darkest purple in very large 10-12cm diam. umbel, more lax than in other acquisitions of this species. Excellent as cut-flower, in garden and for winter arrangements as dry stems are hard and well keeps starry inflorescences.

Very special form collected by me in Iran (WHIR-032) with very compact stature and even could be named as dwarf (especially comparing with its long growing relatives from Uzbekistan). It is so different that I regarded it even as new species, but this was disclaimed by Reinhard Fritsch. In any case it is very good relative of usually grown tall form of this species, suitable for growing in pots. Still not checked in open garden.

One of the gems of my collection, which until identifying I nicknamed “The Little Blue-head Beauty”. A late summer flowering allium with small, dense light sky-blue flower heads on 40-50 cm tall stems. One of the latest summer flowering species in my collection. I know no one similar to it.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun, but appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Tolerates drought. Although this allium is a true bulb (albeit weakly developed) on a rhizome, it forms a clump which can be lifted and divided somewhat easily in either spring or autumn. It will spread in the landscape by short fleshy rhizomes. Nick-name: spiral-onion. Stock is collected in Georgia, near Tbilisi. Here blooms in late summer-early autumn.

Reddish-purple flowers in dense umbels held on 50 - 80 cm high slender stem. This very beautiful form was collected between Akseki and Manavgat in Turkey . Very easy to grow both - under cover and in garden requiring only good drainage.

This beautiful hybrid between very tall A. stipitatum and A. nevskianum was selected by Lithuanian bulb grower Eugenius Dambrauskas. It has large and dense umbels on around 50 cm tall stem and shows excellent hybrid vigor being perfect for any garden and usable even for large pots. Good increase and well keeps its wide impressive leaves.

Another nice species for rock garden. Flowers cup shaped, with acuminate segments, dull purple, edged white. We offer a nice form from NE Turkey originally collected by Alan McMurtrie. Height 30 cm. Flowers at the end of June - July. Showy and easy to grow. Good for outside garden and pots.

Another member of my so named A. karataviense allies from Iran, which I grew up from Archibald seeds under name A. haemanthoides. It has long and narrow perianth tepals in large globular umbel between 2 -3 leaves and on 15cm long scape. Flowers pale purplish toned.

This beautiful and very easy growable Allium arose from A.nevskianum in the private garden of Reinhard Fritsch. Unfortunately it was impossible to trace the pollen parent and it is practically sterile. Sometimes were got few seeds but they never germinate. It is compensated by excellent increasing rate by bulb splitting. Inflorescence can be more dense than on attached picture. It is medium sized by length of scape, but still sufficiently good for pot as well as for rockery and ornamental bed. 15,-

It is very variable species with flowers in all shades of blue, white and even pinkish. Distributed wild in Turkey, Balkans and replaced with A. apennina in very West of South Europe. Easy growable in any well drained spot, usable in sunny and partly shaded spots in the garden.

This beautiful stock was collected on Tahtali Daģ. 1 km after Gezbeli pass, growing in deep clay at roadside on altitudes from 1930 m and higher to melting snow ~ 2100m. Slightly variable in colour but in general bright blue with large white centre of flower. Good grower also in garden.

This beautiful form of Anemone with very rounded flowers originally was collected in Turkey, 40 km before Ermenek (on left side of road from Anamur, before Halkali vil.) in small valleys between old, partly decomposed limestone rocks. Good grower in garden and real prize-winner in shows of pot plants.

Selection from Anemone blanda seedlings with very light bluish flowers, which becomes slightly darker during flowering. Very tender shade, what explains its name.

Small flowers of light blue shade (not a uniform stock!). Finely dissected foliage. Easy to grow in conditions like those for A. nemorosa. Naturally very small rhizomes. From S Altai.

Excellent, very constant selection with semidouble, very large flowers raised by Latvian bulb breeder Juris Egle

It is one of those mutations which appeared after Chernobil's disaster in forests touched by nuclear fallout. This one was found in Denmark and for its unusual shape was named 'Northern Star'. The flower shape, although can vary from season to season and from plant to plant, is more stable than in famous 'Explosion' found in Norway. Very exclusive offer!

It is one of the best “pinks” seen by me. Not great wonder that Taavi Tuulik, who found this mutation on Hiumaa Island in Estonia, applied for this one his own name.

This year we again offer some fully double varieties raised by our Estonian friend Taavi Tuulik, who found them in the wild on Hiiumaa Island after the Chernobyl's disaster. They all are nice, fully double and well separable one from another by the flower shape, blooming time and foliage. Some are offered for the first time and in general only by me. It is not easy to describe the shape of the flowers, but the pictures show you everything - and you can see that each variety is different by its doubling, the shape of the petals and flower etc., therefore the descriptions are short.

Beautiful fully double selection made by Taavi Tuulik, named after historical name of Kõpu peninsula in Hiumaa.

To characterize all cultivars? - I don't think that it is needed. Their pictures are giving all information, which allows to separate them

Another double flowering yellow windflower mutation, offered for the first time.

To characterize all cultivars? - I don't think that it is needed. Their pictures are giving all information, which allows to separate them

This fully double cultivar has slightly orange-shaded flowers and is one of the deepest coloured forms among nearly 50 (!) different, well separable cultivars of A. ranunculoides selected by Taavi Tuulik and grown in our nursery. This is named after father of Taavi Tuulik.

Although fully double, this variety has flowers where petal like segments are interspersed with anthers, so total number of segments is smaller than in other cultivars, but it is fertile, so usable for breeding. It is named after friend of Taavi Tuulik. It was found on Kassari Island, Estonia.

In Estonian language its name means "extremely disorderly" and characterizes placing of additional flower segments in flowers centre, which can be something different in each flower.

Mutation of yellow windflower with very unusual flower shape accented with starry leaves as well. Offered for the first time.

This variety named after Taavi Tuulik's friend has medium large flowers with around 40 petaloids over very regular base formed by standart number of petals. It is fertile as pataloids are interspersed with untransformed anthers and stigmas.

To characterize all cultivars? - I don't think that it is needed. Their pictures are giving all information, which allows to separate them

Another novelty from double flowering mutations of yellow windflower found by Taavi Tuulik on Hiumaa Island in Estonia after Czernobil's nuclear disaster.

It is an attractive species which should be very popular once it becomes more readily available. It has up to 20 cm long spathe and total height at blooming time is around half meter. I collected it as seeds in Iran in 2008 and now it is offered for the first time.

One of the most attractive Muscari s. l. which catches the attention of every visitor of our garden for its very bright, large sky blue flowers. There is no other species with so bright colour and of such shade among Muscari s. l. N-E Turkey, alpine meadows on marshy or boggy ground. Coll. at 2000 m, between Bayburt and Erzurum (BATM-191). Not difficult in garden. According new approach this species belongs to genus Pseudomuscari and really it looks more as Pseudomuscari than Bellevalia.

Lavander, pinkish or almost white, 3-4 cm long, funnel-shaped flowers are arranged in a lax umbel of usually more than 15 flowers held on a 30-40 cm high stem. For a sunny place in a rock garden. This wild form is grown from seeds collected in Tehama Co. in California where it grows in sparse grassy meadows in heavy, clayey but gravely loam. I place this one between the best American bulbs.

Large colonies of this beautiful violet-purple cluster-lily colour the grassy slopes of the Columbia River Gorge. The 3 cm large upward-facing flowers have a central ring of cream-coloured staminodes and stamens. The open umbels are on 15-20 cm long stems. In nature on heavy clay soils.

Forms 10 cm umbels of large dark blue-violet, funnel-shaped flowers with ascending lobes. Similar to the ubiquitous Triteleia laxa, but on much shorter scapes. From the northern Sierra Nevada, California, where it grows in red fir forest on vernally moist gravely flats at 1700m.

A smaller brodiaea with the perianth divided into a short tapered tube and 6, long, spreading lobes. The lobes are dark blue-purple. The filament appendanges in combination with the broad staminodes produce a white crown that encloses the exserted anthers. The 6-10, 2.5 cm large flowers are presented in an open umbel on 15-20 cm long, slender scapes. In wild it is growing in a heavy clay in a serpentine grassland. Needs dry summer conditions.

This species looks as diminutive version of B. elegans. Deep blue flowers with a whitish tube are composed in beautiful umbels on short stems. In the wild stem sometimes is completely in soil, but not so in cultivation, but it is dwarfest of Brodiaeas in my collection. Need vernally moist soil with good drainage and is excellent pot plant. In wild it is growing on grassy slopes between pine/oak woodland, Santa Lucia Range, California.

A dwarf species, 10-20 cm in height, something more robust than type subspecies. Grown from seeds collected on Evans Flat in Greenhorn Mountains, California at ~ 2000m altitude. Flowers violet or lilac, up to 2,5 cm long. Excellent for bulb frame or alpine house. Need vernally moist, gritty soil. Subsp. kernensis is more robust than the type form with more flowered umbels on 10-15 cm long scapes.

It is forming clusters of very heavily-chequered violet-rose flowers . This is one of the most intensely chequered Colchicums. Small blue-green leaves never becomes floppy. Recent genetic research indicates that this is an old horticultural hybrid between variegatum and autumnale, though it has long been accepted as a species. It remains an excellent, free-flowering, easy plant, making fabulous flowers and performing well in a variety of garden conditions. It is deservedly one of most popular Colchicums, but is one that has become increasingly scarce now.

A superb form of Colchicum byzantinum with dense clustered bunches of white funnels in September. Each corm has up to 20 flowers, the tips of the flower segments outside and tips of style branches are picked in purple. One of the most showy autumn species for garden display where it will catch the eye quite early in the autumn blooming Colchicum season. Easy growable in normal garden conditions, best in full sun in a fertile, well drained soil, but perfect also in pots..

Small but very abundantly in spring blooming Turkish species with distinctly hairy leaves. Very rarely offered.

This nice early-blooming colchicum was collected by me in the Kopet-dag mountains a long time ago. Flowers are white to slightly lilac shaded with slightly narrow petals, but blooms abundantly. K. Persson regards it as a synonym to C. robustum, though jolanthae has narrower leaves.

This is new hysteranthous colchicum species something similar to Colchicum speciosum. It was described from Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests of the Kaçkar Mountains in NE Turkey by me and Ukrainian botanist Dimitri Zubov. From something similar C. speciosum, easy separable by distinctly narrow-oblanceolate perianth segments and large white flower throat usually up to 1/3-1/2 of segments length. Excellent for garden and in pots. Very limited stock.

Colchicum leptanthum is known from a single location in NE Anatolia, Turkey, where its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be 4 sq. km. Its steppe habitat is declining because of dam and road construction and the overall population is in continuing decline due to habitat loss. The species is therefore listed as Critically Endangered. My stock derived from type collection, used for its description, so no damage to native population was done by me.

Just recently described (in 1999) spring flowering species with small light violet flowers and blackish purple anthers and dark base. Abundantly flowering and surprisingly well growing and increasing.Corms in some stocks are something horizontally oriented, resembling short and thick stolones, in others vertically positioned. Something similar to C. serpentinum, growing in the same area but easy separable by leaves which in C. munzurense are narrowly furrowed, 7-10(-12) mm wide.

One of the earliest blooming species (here in July) and I always suddenly realize that the Colchicum season in my greenhouse has started after a break in bulb blooming. Grown from material collected on Mount Parnassus in Greece. Forms clusters of quite large, goblet-shaped soft shell-pink flowers.

One of the nicest colchicums, with 5 cm long, funnel shaped flowers of bright rose-pink in the spring, in small clusters which stick straight up out of the ground, with the narrow leaves. A “large flowered miniature” ideal for a choice garden spot or alpine house pot.

From gardeners standpoint all bulbous Corydalis can be divided into two large groups: woodlanders and steppelanders. Woodland species prefer peaty soil which never dries out completely and a light shade. They must be planted as soon as possible. If tubers look overdried, we recommend you to soak them in water for several hours before planting. Eastern woodlanders from Siberia, Far East, China are more susceptible to drying out than western woodlanders from Europe, Caucasus, Turkey . Corydalis solida cultivars belong to same group. Steppelanders or ‘bulb-belt’ species generally are sun-lovers and need dryer summer conditions . We harvest them annually and keep out of soil in a bulb shed.

Flowers yellow with a pink spur and a purple nose, one of the most beautiful and rarest corydalis discovered by me in Ber-Kara (Black Stream) gorge, the Kara-tau mnt. range at 1700-2000m. Easy growing. According to Henrik Zetterlund: “a plant you will never forget if you ever get a chance to see it”. Earlier regarded as subsp. of schanginii, but last researches found that it is completely different spacies although it can hybridise with typical schanginii

This variable and beautiful species has lax, well-packed spikes of good-sized soft opalescent wehitish to pink flowers from late January onwards. Happy outside in the garden here.

Strong, slender stems carry shallowly-cut, deep green leaves below a loose spike with 20 or so flowers. These are white to palest bluish pink or light purplish with a contrasting purple nose and an upturned spur. Seem to be hardy here. Collected by me in Iranian Kurdistan.

Flowers of such an original combination of white and brown that bears the nickname “coffee and cream corydalis”. A somewhat variable stock because grown from seeds collected in my garden, where stocks of various origins can hybridize.

I discovered this beautiful species in the upper reaches of the river Shing, Tajikistan. Flowers white with a blue stripe in dense spikes, one of the most floriferous. Initially was misidentified by me as C. glaucescens. Renamed after me by Magnus Liden from the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Sweden, when was found that it is new, still unknown species.

Flowers very large, white with a long pink spur and purple nose, an excellent grower in a sunny place. Collected during my first expedition to Central Asia in 1975 in Kirgyzstan near Bishkek at 1800-2000 m on a gritty slope.

A late flowering species with slightly pinkish, bluish or whitish flowers (very variable by colour) and finely dissected foliage from near Avlan Gölü in S Turkey.

Another one "weed"fond on hosta bed in nursery part supervised by my wife Guna, who noted this beauty with large white, purple shaded at "mouth" flowers. Offered for the first time and still very limited stock.

This very unusual seedling of C. solida clearly shows the presence of C. paczoskii in its parentage. Makes large spikes with very contrasting whitish flowers with an upright lilac-pink spur, the outer tepals rimmed bright violet, but the tips of inner tepals blackish lilac. Very special!

Although I declared that no more new varieties in solida group, this one was so beautiful, that I named it after our granddaughter Juna. There are still some very special of unusual colours under further propagation..

One of the most unusual selections with really tricolored flowers – a true break in Corydalis solida breeding. The spur is light pinkish purple with a large pure white tip, the upper petal is nearly pure white with only a slight pinkish tinge, the lower petal beautifully light blue. Bracts slightly dentate, dark green with a narrow purple rim. Named after my granddaughter.

We still are nameing some of outstanding Corydalis solida seedlings raised by Janis. This one is the very brightest red ever seen, may be ZWANENBURG could something compete, but Royal Red is faster increaser and better grower with us.

I'm not more breeding new Corydalis solida cultivars but sometimes in garden beds with other plants appear some very pleasant "weed" and I'm going for shovel to collect it and to place in pot for further increasing. This one is sample of such unintentional discoveries of unique soft pinkish orange flower colour. Named after Astride Rozīte - great friend of our family having beautiful garden and large collection of various plants. Very limited stock!

Comparatively late blooming species with bright sky blue to slightly lilac flowers in large spikes and with stoloniferous habit (forming additional replacement tuber on underground part of stem at its scale-leaf).

Still very few copies left. I hope to receive some more from local whole-seller, who still has some in stock, but in general all 2000 copies are sold. Unfortunately postage costs raised and they depends from country and packing - the total weight of packed book exceeds 2 kg, so higher rate is applied and Latvian Post announced rising of costs after New Year (I'm writing this in December, 2022). I'm offering it now for 50,- Euro (packing and postage costs are included, and makes 60% of total costs) what for book of such size (568 p. of A-4 size, almost 2000 colour pictures) is very low.

Five years passed since my monograph "The World of Crocuses" was published. During this time some new conclusions about growing tips came, some more features were used to separate species. And most important 31 new species of crocuses were recognized throughout all Crocus distribution area starting from Portugal and ending in Iran, inclusive the first true yellow late autumn blooming crocus hybrid. Of course several mistakes of main volume were corrected and additions to species descriptions added - colour pictures, distribution maps etc., etc. At this moment manuscript is in hands of artist who makes page-layout, to be printed (I hope) in March. But at this moment I don't know total editing costs, weight of new book and so postage costs are unknown, too. Book will be of same size as main volume only much thinner (there are only 31 species characterized contrary to 230 in the main volume), so postage costs will be lower, regardless of rising of them by Latvian Post. You can order it already now, but I will inform you about exact costs something later. Given price is aqpproximate and can be lower. You can order book writing to me also by e-mail janis.bulb@hawk.lv On front cover - Crocus marandicus, back cover - Crocus harpkeae.

In this part you will find crocus species and cultivars blooming in autumn. On attached picture general view of our autumn crocus collection pictured 30th of September, 2017.

This is a late autum blooming species found in stony places and low scrub across a wide area from western Syria (in the Aleppo region – hence the name) into Jordan, Lebanon and Israel, but some of the reported locations belong to other, as yet undescribed species (must be published soon by other botanists, so I cancelled my work on them). It blooms from November and although flowers are quite small but they are borne in clusters of several to each corm. The flower colour is generally white, variably marked with a little yellow in the throat below a divided orange style and yellow-orange anthers, sometimes with black in connective. On the exterior there is usually some purple striping, especially towards the tube however this too varies. It needs dry and hot summer conditions, left all the year round in greenhouse it blooms very abundantly

This species of Crocus speciosus allie was discovered by me in Iran and named after the renowned plantsman Jim Archibald, who introduced many new plants from remote countries. Flowers very specially coloured - with 3 stripes along the back of outer flower segments. Very limited stock!

This is a beautiful autumn blooming crocus from C. speciosus group with very large flowers and creamy yellow to deep yellow throat and many branched stigma well over-topping anthers. One of the best "speciosus" from open fields in Armenia near Goris.

Quite a local species in the wild, limited to the oak-scrub region around Akseki in the western Taurus range, but it has proved to be one of the best of the saffron group in cultivation. Possible outside in a sunny, dry site and an easy, satisfying species under glass. Delicately veined, white to palest lilac flowers with showy, scarlet styles, generously produced in autumn,

A somewhat variable in colour species, flowers soft violet with fantastically branched styles, the outer tepals are twice as long as the inner ones, that’s why among its synonym names one can find even “Crociris”. Multiplied from seeds gathered on white blooming individuals, so occasional white ones can occure in this stock. Prefers light shade and needs some watering in summer when long dry spells occur

One of the brightest white crocuses with a very branched very bright orange style and large nicely rounded tepals. I’m offering pure white forms with small deep orange throat, which originate from the Taygetos mnt. in Greece.

The most elegant species from Crocus speciosus group with cool white throat and glistening white flower tube. With the first glance on it you will understand that it is something very special. I named it as Crocus elegans, but according rules of International code, the priority has name given by Ingo Schneider.

Crocus cancellatus is another group of complicated taxonomy where under this name certainly hides several species. This one was originally collected in then peaceful Syria and regarded as type cancellatus. It is one of the most beautiful forms grown in my collection under common name "cancellatus". Something variable in colour, it always has white striped throat and large something rounded flowers. Still very limited stock.

This crocus belongs to large group of C. cancellatus. Certainly under this name several species still are hidden and this one, collected in Turkey near Gulnar, on horizontal stony field with small shrubs, is one of candidates to proper name.

Flowers white to deep violet with darker violet stripes in the throat or throughout the petal inner surface whilst in the centre sit chrome yellow anthers and a long deep red three-branched stigma. The striking colours are further enhanced by a strong fragrance of saffron. It is one of the very few species whose flowers don’t close at night. Last researches on genetic level confirmed that just Crocus cartwrightianus is the ancient parent of C. sativus.

Excellent selection from Crocus cartwrightianus with pure white flowers, occasionally with dark stripes in throat.

This is a population on Crete which Herbert named as Crocus cartwrightianus var. creticus. In overall appearance it is somewhat similar to C. oreocreticus, but the latter is a high mountainous plant never growing lower than 1000 m, whilst C. cartwrightianus on Crete is distributed around Khania at the western end of the island at altitudes not higher than 300 m. There are several morphological features separating them both, too, and Cretan population of C. cartwrightianus deserves a closer examination as it could belong to another not yet described species. According to E. A. Bowles, “…it flowers so freely in English gardens that it is very attractive on sunny slopes of a rock garden in October and November..."

Robust species, flowering in late autumn from low hills and woodlands bordering the Caspian Sea. Not difficult in a well-drained, loam-based compost, but something tender, so it can be grown here only in an alpine house. I once or twice lost it due to low temperatures but it so well set seeds, that always I successfully recovered my stocks from seedlings. The fragrant flowers are slightly variable from pure white (with a yellow throat) to a very soft pinkish-violet. The flowers of C. caspius are made in abundance starting from about November and flowering comes in two waves, with the flowers in the second wave being noticeably more lilac-tinted. Seed is usually set prolifically however the seed pods, unlike almost every other Crocus species, are held below ground even when they are fully ripe.

This crocus earlier regarded as a subspecies of C. cancellatus has lighter or darker lilac flowers with an indistinct lighter or darker striped throat. My plants come from seedlings originally collected in eastern Turkey and are more vigorous and better growers than the usually offered forms from Jordan. Corms have remarkably coarsely netted tunics. Most likely under this name hides several different species, now under research in Israel and Germany.

Earlier was regarded as a subspecies of C. pallasii. It has narrow wiry leaves and starry flowers, typically in shades of wine purple but sometimes lighter. Needs a bulb frame or alpine house to show its best. Original plants were collected P.&P. Watt, near Gulnar at altitude of 500 m. It is local race with deeper coloured, red-purple flowers and paler, less conspicuous style branches. Offered are seedlings from original stock so can be something variable in colour.

It is another form with light coloured flowers, but by all important morphological features this one completely agree with deep purple form, growing at West border of its area. It is something variable population, in general lightest from all gatherings, but more heavily striped flowers occur between them.

This rare species comes from Gilan province in NW Iran. Flowers are medium sized, white, flushed lilac to light lilac and with slight violet veining. With age becomes darker. A close relative to Crocus autranii with which it readily hybridises although has a different chromosome number. Does not like drying out in summer.

Very elegant lavender to pale lilac-blue flowers with a white throat and broadly ovate segments on a long flower tube from the Mani peninsula in the Peloponnesus, Greece. An excellent grower and a very beautiful autumn crocus.

This is the restricted endemic of Malea in southern Greece (the next peninsula along to the east from the more well-known Mani). Flowers appear after leaves show up and its blooming starts at end of September. Flowers are pale, almost white with very light bluish tint on outer segments. Easy in a sunny well-drained spot but here better grows in pots because foliage needs some protection against frost when snow is absent.

This population comes from Parnon Massif in Greece and for some time was regarded even as subsp. parnonicus. It has slightly lilac-shaded flower segments and a white throat. Differences are so subtle. that it is better to regard it only as colour form.

This beautiful hybrid selected from open pollinated seeds of C. hadriaticus in my nursery is easy separable by its dark purple flower tube. Seems that it is sterile (I never got seeds from it) although I never tried to handpollinate it and it has very good increasing rate by corm splitting. I decided to name it after my very long time mountain travel partner from Czech Republic Jiri Bydgoscz.

It is not easy to get hold of the true species, quite often under this name are offered various, superficially similar forms of C. suworowianus which sometimes do resemble C. hakkariensis by the shape of the flower segments – they are distinctly wedge-like and somewhat angular at the tips (obtrullate). But any doubts disappear when the throat is checked for in C. hakkariensis it is distinctly hairy and nude in its relatives. In cultivation C. hakkariensis requires hot and dry conditions during the summer. Very rare in cultivation. Offered plants were originally collected in Iran, at border with Hakkari Province of Turkey.

For the first time I'm offering type gathering of this very unusual crocus allied to C. kotschyanus, but with very special shape of flowers and colour, what immediately allows to identify it. Although main feature separating all 3 gatherings (J. Perssons, HKEP and mine) from traditional C. kotschyanus is the forming of leaves during blooming or just after and they are going into winter with well developed leaves. Regardless of this - samples are hardy and didn't suffered during almost 20 years of cultivation. Of course -t they has different cytology, too.

Just at Christmas of 2018 published new species from Hatay Province in Turkey near Syrian border which originally was collected by me and Eugenius Dambrauskas already in 2003 (sample RUDA-117), but published only now when more detailed studies of this relative of well known Crocus kotschyanus were performed. Its main feature separating it from all other samples of C. kotschyanus sensu lato is forming of leaves already during blooming. It has different chromosome number, too, but there are other morphological features separating both species, as length of stigma and its branching and position relating anthers, although they are something more variable. I have 3 different gatherings of this species, all collected in the same region independently by me, Erick Pasche and J. Person from Gothenburg Botanic Garden. Offered is stock HKEP-9205 originally collected already in 1992 with lovely light violet, darker striped flowers and +/- confluent large yellow-orange blotches at the base giving an impression of an orange throat.

I came across Crocus haussknechtii in Iranian Kurdistan, in a few locations E of Sanandaj, on hard clay on open rocky slopes, not exactly on rocks but on moderately sloping spots where more soil had accumulated. In my samples from Iran the flowers are somewhat light lilac, actually nearly whitish, with slightly darker lilac veining though the colour can vary. Generally the ground colour remains whitish but the veining can be quite dark lilac. The style branches are very deep red, widely expanding at the apex. Plants from Jordan soon will have new name.

Crocus hermoneus by flower is almost indistinguishable from C. cancellatus, sometimes the two grow in mixed populations, so for a correct identification it is necessary to check the corm tunics. In general its flower segments are narrower and more widely open in sun, when flower segments even can bend backwards. Really under this name are hidden several species which soon must be published (may be already are). Here is offered sample which will keep the name "hermoneus". Very limited stock.

Finally I found time to finish work on this crocus and it will be officially published in IRG after few days. It is growing wild on Chios Island and is quite variable - flowers are from pure white to dark striped purple and its anthers are yellow or black - in almost any population you can find plants with both anther colours. My stock was collected in spring, so no special selection by flowers was made, and I didn't separate them during cultivation, so don't ask me for special colours and I can't guarantee that corms which you will receive will have black anthers - such were in average around 30 % of collected corms (~ 60% at locus classicus) and same proportion remain between their seedlings. Legend tells that blind ancient poet Homer (author of Odyssey and Iliad) was born on Chios, so this new species was named after him.

This species belongs to Crocus speciosus group but is easy separable by its white anthers and branched stigma which well overtops anthers. For long it was regarded as C. pulchellus (for its white anthers) although is easy distinguishable from the last. In wild it grows in Turkey in Europe and seems that in adjacent Bulgaria, too. Very limited stock!

It is in fact a diminutive form of Crocus speciosus, with small nicely veined and striped flowers, the main feature for separation is the stigmatic branches that end between tips of anthers and are less branched. That allows proving the correctness of the name. Often under this name are offered various hybrids or seedlings of the Crocus speciosus. Offered stock was collected at its "locus classicus" just before entry in Ilgaz Dag National Park, but outside it!

This beautiful species from the surroundings of Lake Van in E Turkey has a long and rich history and usually under this name is offered a form of C. kotschyanus. The typical plant has a long, branched white to creamy yellow stigma well overtopping the anthers, but it is something variable. Flowers light lilac with darker violet veining with no traces of yellow in the throat. Needs dry summer conditions.

This variety has a white style and for this feature it was misnamed as C. karduchorum. The inner base in this form is pure white without any yellow spots. The stigmatic branches are hidden among the anthers. Seedlings split into the typical form and in var. leucopharynx. Rarely offered.

This form isn't identical with var. leucopharynx although it also has white throat. What is correct name for it I don't know, may be it is some hybrid? I got it under name of C. karduchorum from Gothenburg Botanical garden, what it certainly isn't due yellow and little branched stigma and "normal" position of corm in the soil (with axis vertical). Regardless of name it is very beautiful with comparatively smaller flowers than in its relatives from Series Kotschyani.

Generally with a white background colour, but it can be lilac, too. Flower exterior with thin, purple feathering of varying intensity, the whole beautifully contrasting with the frilly mass of expanded style lobes. Anthers pure white. Flowers from late autumn and continues into winter.

This selection from widespread in wild Crocus laevigatus has beautifully lilac toned flowers with dark purple back of flower segments. It has very strong, nice scent in sunny days filling all greenhouse.

The flowers are starry, strong violet-purple with a lovely fragrance and a small deep orange throat in the centre surrounded by a diffused whitish zone. The throat colour is quite variable. Its fragrance fills the greenhouse and I list it among the best autumn-blooming crocuses.

This species is one of the most desirable newcomers of late blooming autumn crocuses with mostly glistening white flowers and a large methylene-violet throat, red entire stigma branches and yellow anthers. There is some variation in the amount of violet, in the shape of the flower segments and sometimes the flower segments are light violet. This stock was originally received from its discoverer E. Pasche and carefully grown up from seeds in our nursery. It grows well in pots but must be kept cooler in summer.

Although Crocus mazziaricus is a well-known and widely distributed species, its taxonomic status, or rather, just to which populations its specific epithet can be applied, is still debatable. Certainly, in such a large region several species might be hiding under the common name “C. mazziaricus”. Plants offered here originally were collected closely to the locus classicus (on mainland Greece just opposite to Lefkada Island at W coast of Greece) where it grew side by side with C. hadriaticus in mixed populations) and respond to original description.

The name "mazziaricus" is used for crocuses from very large area - starting from Lefkada Island in W Greece up to Central Turkey. Undoubtedly under this name are hidden at least two or even more species. True mazziaricus is distributed on Pelloponessus, but in dirrection to East it is replaced by other species, still unpublished. At presernt it is not easy to tell where lies border between them. This stock was collected near Thiva and in general is more bluish than plants from Pelloponessus and there seem to be differences in corm tunics, too. This species now is researched by Greek botanists and I don't want enter their field.

Strong, weather resistant ivory white flowers with a ring of golden spots in the throat, growing wild in Lebanon and Israel. I'm offering very abundantly lowering form originally collected in Israel and blooming here in October. It likes full sun and good drainage, although here it better feels if grown in pots of alpine house where it flowers and increases well, making a lot of cormlets. One of the best stocks, far better than usually commercially offered.

Originally it was collected out of flowers between ruins of ancient Ariasos North of Antalya and when bloomed in my collection, turned extremely variable - some individuals resembled Crocus assumaniae, growing far to the East, few had colour and stigma as in C. kofudagensis (growing far to the West), but most of them resembled some of Turkish crocuses at present regarded as C. pallasii aff. Revisiting of site at blooming time confirmed huge variability of this population. Is it the place where met all those species or something else - I don't know. At least species status for both - kofudagensis and assumaniae were confirmed by DNA. Offered plants are not selected by colour, but dominates individuals which looks closer to C. pallasii sensu latissimo.

This is very beautiful form of crocus which still is regarded as C. pallasii and growing wild in Turkey in Europe. Is it true pallasii or something different? I don't know. There must be done deeper research. I already made for it type herbarium as potentially new species, but hadn't time for more careful checking. Of course DNA checking could clear any doubt about its status.

This sample of Crocus very resembling typical Crocus pallasii from Crimea originally was collected by Henrik Zetterlund near vil. Kumanovo in North Macedonia. Very beautiful and good grower in alpine house but I didn't try it in open garden.

A beautiful autumn-flowering species with slender light lilac-blue flowers nicely lightly marked with parallel violet stripes. In the centre bright yellow anthers and a bright red stigma. My stock comes from near Labranda in SW Turkey where it grows in very stony clay ground. By other travellers it is reported as the best "pallasii" ever seen . Unfortunately its wild population is almost destroyed by repeated attacks of wild boars, that only few plants growing deep in minor rock splits too hard even for boars tooth, escaped this fate. I collected from those few seedpods from which was raised my stock. Certainly it needs own name as a new species. Very limited stock.

This crocus was originally collected as "side product" during researching on so named "nubigena" crocus growing on Samos Island, what resulted in description of new species - Crocus seisumsiana. Offered stock was rised up from few "pallasii like" plants collected by me and from seeds collected on Samos by great my friend Marcus Harvey from Australia, who sent me good handful of seeds, collected there by himself. Certainly it is not type pallasii as it is regarded in last Greek papers, but is it different from Chios populations, at present is unclear. Both looks similar, but variability on Chios is of different style.

This is typical, true Crocus pallasii and comes from its locus classicus in Crimea, now occupied by Russia. I succeed to collect this crocus really in the last moment before Russia occupied peninsula. C. pallasii was described just from Crimea, so my plants belong to true, typical species. Flowers are mostly lilac of various shades, rarely white, the throat usually whitish with deep purple stripes. Stigma trilobed, deep red levelling with the anthers. Flower segments in the Crimean plants are generally broader than in those from Turkey, which most likely belongs to another species.

One more crocus from large "speciosus" group, described by famous botanist Grossheim from Talish in Aserbaijan but not published according rules of Nomenclature Code, so the name is not officially accepted. Certainly it is not typical speciosus as it is growing on open meadows and looks different, something intermediate with C. archibaldiorum, but in Iran there are several very special forms growing between both species. So further research is required to establish its status.

These are wild forms of this beautiful, mid-autumn blooming very hardy crocus from Chios Island (Greece) with nice rounded lilac-blue flowers with a bright yellow throat and white anthers. Tepals with a few darker stripes (veins). Seems that just Chios populations are the most attractive between 26 acquisitions of this species in my collection.

It is diminutive relative of C. laevigatus from Crete. Like all the species that enter winter with well-developed leaves, here it can be grown only under cover where it perfectly blooms usually starting from the end of October (although the earliest record is from 5th October, 2011) and finishing in December. C. pumilus is reported as sufficiently hardy, but here in our long and as a rule harsh winters it can suffer from frosts. It very well sets seed and multiplies by corm division.

This member of the large C. speciosus group has a very distinct genotype and grows quite isolated from others on the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine (at this moment occupied by Russia). By flower it looks quite similar to the type speciosus but blooms generally much earlier. We once had a stock that was already in bloom in the first days of August but it was destroyed by rodents.Flowers are very large.

Another member of large "speciosus" aliance. This species grow in the wild at low altitudes and due its deep yellow throat something resembles highland C. xantholaimos, but contrary to it has distinctly more branched stigma overtopping anthers. At present it is known only from two spots around Sakarya in NW Turkey. As it is typical for autumn species growing at low altitudes, it blooms later than its relatives from high altitudes. Very limited stock.

It is unique form at present regarded as stoloniferous form of C. salzmannii. By this it resembles C. nudiflorus but contrary to last develop leaves together with flowers. Recently HKEP published review of "serotinus" group crocuses and they regards as typical salzmannii plants growing in Marocco, but Spanish forms could belong to different species. At least this one. In nature it growth in peaty pockets, so prefair acid soils, but is quite tolerant in this aspect.

This one sample according HKEP could be regarded as true C. salzmannii although it was collected in Morocco but at higher altitude and around 300 km to the South from the locality where crocus observed by German explorers is growing.

This stock of C. salzmannii of unknown origin I got under name of "Crocus clusii" from my great friend Zhirair Basmajyan (Armenia) who tragically was killed last summer by some young robber and burnt together with his summerhouse and all collection of harvested bulbs. From the first blooming I put under doubt its name, because it formed long leaves during blooming, although at start was leafless. The identification was re-checked by anthers which in salzmannii is much longer than in true C. clusii. Although corm tunics are not very typical for salzmannii, they lay inside variability for C. salzmannii. As they are clone, I decided to name this stock after my late friend.

This is famous saffron crocus, source of popular spice used to colour rice, bread and giving them special taste. With me it is growable only in greenhouse because need hot and long summer for flowering. This stock was collected in Greece, at vil. Krokos where is grown saffron

Very late but abundantly blooming species nova from Crocus speciosus group in Iran from low altitudes. Pretty flowers, but due late blooming here better feels under cover in alpine house..

This stock was collected near locus classicus in Georgia and represent true, typical form of this species. Cultivars grown under name of speciosus most likely represents other species from this group or are of hybrid origin.

Although sometimes crocus under this name is offered, almost never you will receive true to name and virus-free plant. My stock comes from 70-ies, so it is more than 50 years old and I got it from famous at that time Van Tubergen nursery. True OXONIAN has very deep purple flower tube - such I didn't see in any other C. speciosus form or cultivar.

This form of C. suworowianus has lilac flowers, but otherwise it is not much different from the typical C. suworowianus. Some specimens gravitate towards C. kotschyanus but their tepals are narrower and the corm lies on its side.

The flower colour varies from light lilac to deep lilac with an invariably lighter or darker yellow throat that sometimes is orange or greenish yellow in the fairest forms. Needs dry and hot summers.

Large, widely opening soft lavender flowers with glistening white anthers and much-divided orange stigmas. One of the only three autumnal crocuses that does not close its flowers in poor light or cold weather, they stay open even at night. It is distributed on Greek Islands and each island’s population has something different from neighbours.

Earlier regarded as a subsp. of C. pallasii and distinguished from the type by a long persistent „neck” of old leaf bases. The flowers are lovely light violet marked and feathered with darker lines, darker in the throat, tepals generally narrower than in C. pallasii but wider than in C. dispathaceus. This stock was collected in Lebanon.

An excellent early autumn-flowering crocus with large creamy white flowers, segments have peculiar acuminate tips. Prefers peaty soil and does not like drying out in summer. From Artvin, NE Turkey.

A species endemic to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus where it is growing in scrub on stony or grassy places. It is flowering here in late Autumn (from November) and during early Winter when it makes its cheery, star-shaped flowers. Flowers are small to medium-sized, white with some purple veining or lining on outer petals. The throat is bright yellow. Sometimes anthers are lined blackish along connective. Very limited stock.

A quite recently described autumn-blooming member of the C. biflorus group with very nice lilac flowers that open widely exposing beautiful black anthers with yellow basal lobes and dark red stigmatic branches resembling those of C. sativus. Very unusual and of exceptional beauty. Still very rare in cultivation and seriously endangered in the wild. Our stock is carefully multiplied by seeds from the original type collection.

This beautiful crocus was originally described by B. Mathew in his Monograph as subspecies of C. speciosus but according to new approach to Crocus taxonomy now must be regarded as species. Stock was collected by me just on its locus classicus. Flowers are comparatively smaller with deep yellow throat and many-branched stigma hided deep between anthers. It is blooming very long time and sometimes here winter starts when still last flowers not wilted and they are going under snow.

This crocus species is the most easterly growing representative from C. speciosus group. It is easy separable from another Iranian species of same group - C. archibaldiorum by position of stigma and from most other relatives by usually purple striped upper cataphyll. Flowers are attractive, violet, beautifully veined in a darker shade of the same colour. All of the six, quite evenly-sized, petals are veined with pale yellow inner base, and are set around yellow anthers which in turn ring around an orange-yellow, trifid style which is further sub-divided just at its tips. The style usually exceeds the length of the anthers. The purple-striped upper cataphyll is not always that obvious and additionally, it does vary substantially according to the age of the flower.

Following is our current offer of crocus species and cultivars blooming in spring. On attached picture you can see our collection pictured in polytunnel at 1st of April but usually under cover crocuses blooms much earlier.

A very beautiful large-flowering, extremely variable in colour population from Armenia, in any case far better than other forms offered under this name. It is the true adamii, different from usual commercial stocks, with large blue or violet, tinted or striped darker flowers.

This species belongs to my greatest favourites among spring-blooming crocuses. Flowers bright blue with a bright yellow inner base surrounded by radial white rays. An exceptional beauty from high mountains of NE Turkey. Very limited stock originally collected on Zigana Pass.

White flowers uniquely patterned with speckles and dots in silver to ash-grey on the exterior. On the inside the shining white contrasts with the bright yellow throat. Requires a well drained soil in full sun.

C. alexandri from the biflorus group is easily to identify because at present there are known only two species with a white throat. The other is C. weldenii, but its leaves have 1 or 2 prominent ribs in the lateral channels. In the garden C. alexandri is an easy grower and according to E. A. Bowles, they “make splendid garden plants, flowering rather late”. My plants comes from Mt. Falakro in Makedonia (Greece).

Checking cytology of various acquisitions of this species, in Gatersleben Institute of Plant Genetics was discovered that under this name are hidden at least 4 genetically different species which superficially are very similar.This sample comes from Yagdonduran gec.where it is growing on grassy W faced slopes with clearings on heavy clay and it belongs to cytotype II, which can hybridize with other species.

Incredibly vigorous and floriferous occasional hybrid of Crocus ancyrensis selected as by Lithuanian bulb grower Eugenius Dambrauskas. Very bright, abundantly blooming and good increaser by splitting, it is sterile, confirming hybrid origin. Another parent is unknown.

This is a superb selection of this tough crocus; it lacks the typical dark purple-black striping on the exterior. From outside it looks nicely creamy yellow but opens like a brightest golden yellow star. Very abundantly flowering.

This one belongs to one of the best specioes in the C. biflorus group. Flowers are lighter or darker blue with a bright orange throat, rarely with black anthers. As the name implies the dry seeds of this species are black.

Crocus azerbaijanicus for the first time was accidentally found in 2018 just near road on very steep slopes of roadside gully where our team stopped to check some Colchicum raddeanum flourishing in long distance along our road. Between flowers of colchicums we spotted nice crocus, having very strong, sweet honey like scent. It is named by E Azerbaijan Province in Iran, where it is growing wild.

A most exciting species with pale but brilliant turquoise blue flowers with delicate slightly darker veins. I don’t know of any other crocus species with a similar colour. Rare in cultivation but not very difficult, can be grown outside even here; in summer pots must be brought outside. A very limited stock.

Crocus bertiscensis was recently described from N Albania. I'm growing very similar to it sample collected not very far in neighbouring Kosovo. The main difference is in habitat - typical Crocus bertiscensis is plant of alpine meadows whilst Kosovo sample is growing into Fagus forest and has wider leaves, what is quite typical for more shaded popuilations, so I offer it here as "similar to Crocus bertiscensis ". Both - typical bertiscensis and Kosovo plants are grown by me in something acid substrate (pH below 6) and they are growing very well both in pots and earlier as well they felt on open field..

This crocus of exceptional beauty was found by our team between Darica and Elbistan. Bright colour, black in anthers, dark shaded throat something resembles crocuses from W coast of Turkey but is growing far to the East. I simply hadn't time to explore it more deeply, but I hope to publish it coming spring. Of course it is variable, as all wild species.

This very special crocus was originally collected during KPPZ expedition to Turkey in 1990, when it was found growing on Karadag mountains, N of Karaman. Most likely it is a new, still unrecognised species, but this will need deeper checking. In any case it is very good grower and excellent addition to any collection.

This beautiful sample was collected in Turkey between Kangal and Sivas. It most likely is another one new still insufficiently researched to be named and published new species.

That beauty comes from Dokuzdolanbac (Demirci) gec. in Turkey and is another one species which I regard as different from other already published crocus species. I'm still growing around 50 unidentified samples of annulate crocuses hiding several new species and I hope that in coming years I will have time to work on them.

This very good wild hybrid between two at this time unknown species from C. biflorus and C. chrysanthus groups was originally found by Erich Pasche already in 1982. Erich send me few corms of it, here it turned very good grower and increaser by corm splitting, so I decided to offer it for other growers, too. It is sterile, I never got seeds, but this is compensated by very good growing capacity.

C. bowlesianus is very colourful (especially the forms with black anthers) and it has proved to be a very good grower, regularly producing seed and increasing well by corm division. My stock is still quite small, so I plant it only in pots.

The most unusual feature of Crocus candidus in the wild is the production of only one wide leaf per corm even in flowering individuals. Its flowers are almost invariably white. The intraspecific variability is expressed on the flower segment exteriors in the form of speckling or striping of differing intensity. Very limited stock.

This species was for the first time found in 2018 but officially published only in 2022 when more detailed researches were done in region W of Lake Urmiye in Iran. Its name is derived from the Kurdish (Kurmanji) word ‘çîya’ (‘chiai’) meaning ‘a mountain’, ‘mountainous’ as it is growing at altitudes over 2000 m together with maqny other bulbous plants - at least 9 different species on same spot.

Crocus chrysanthus is one of the best-known and most popular crocuses with gardeners. Its bright yellow flowers shine in the garden from afar. Some of C. chrysanthus s.l. forms are widely used in breeding and there have been raised many lovely cultivars. Offered form was collected at Greek Macedonia and belongs to true chrysanthus. Note the position of stigma which in typical chrysanthus from Europe mostly well surpasses anthers or less often is level with their tips. Those from Turkey grown under this name belongs to several other species and in general their stigmas ends below tips of anthers. Offered form is one of the best growers both in garden and in pots.

On Falakro mountain in Greece are growing at least 3 beautiful crocuses - Crocus orphei, Crocus alexandrii and some of Crocus chrysanthus group - so different by some features from other Greek "chrysanthus" that could be worth of own name, but this still need more deep research on more material.

This form where most of individuals has deep purple flower tube (but not all) was collected at Gencek, not far from Lake Beyshekir in Turkey. Turkish so named "chrysanthus" belongs to several different species, many still are not published, but they all has stigma ending below or at tips of anthers and not overtop them as in European plants.

This form of Crocus chrysanthus was selected by my Lithuanian friend. It blooms very abundantly and is good grower in garden, may be even better than in pots because it increases freely and in pot could be too little space.

It is general opinion that in Greece are growing only one yellow blooming crocus species with annulate tunics - Crocus chrysanthus although several populations can be quite different, so we keep them under names of locality where stock was collected. This one was collected on Grammos mountains when our team searched for Crocus gramensis.

Turkish so named "chrysanthus" belongs to several different species, many still are not published, but they all has stigma ending below or at tips of anthers and not overtop them as in European plants. Offered sample was collected between Hadim and Bozkir, around Gevne Beli, at altitude c.1800 m during my first trip to Turkey.

Crocus concinnus is distributed wild around Akseki and further to NW direction. How far - still is not clear just where it is replaced by C. mawii, because both are very similar. Each population is something different by general flower view, so they are kept separately. It is very good grower, excellent pot plant and in garden as well.

Another population of this variable species having wide distribution area and so each population is something different. As others it is good grower in garden and in alpine house.

This one stock was collected just near its locus classicus and it is quite different from Greek populations having flowers from almost white to pale yellow colour, sometimes looking intermediate between C. jablanicensis and Greek forms of C. cvijicii, what now has name C. gramensis..

This tiny species from Cyprus belongs to my favourites for its large bright reddish orange throat and blackish purple “tongue” over the outer base of the deep violet-blue flower segments. A small plant and naturally very small corms, but regardless of size - blooms very abundantly. Not very hardy, therefore protection during winter spells is very recommended.

Crocus danfordiae is quite unique between crocuses - it is the single species where you can find individuals with white, yellow and blue coloured flowers what alone allows to suspect that there are hidden several different species. In addition - looking on distribution map in Flora of Turkey we can see 3 separated regions - North, West and East. And there are few outlined populations. In last years already 3 species were separated - C. minimus (described by HKEP), C. brickellii (described by me) and C. kurdistanicus found in Iran. I'm growing 35 different samples of this crocus and offered stocks are marked with E - means Eastern populations, W - western populations.

Crocus danfordiae has very large area of distribution where can be separated 2 regions - Eastern region in Central Turkey and Western region in W Turkey. They certainly represents different species. This stock from Kaan Gecidi has in general yellow and very rarely white flowers.

Very special form of variable C. danfordiae with tiny, deep yellow flowers, distinctly flushed greyish on outer segments outside. Limited stock.

This stock was collected something South from Tokat in E Turkey - if other observed East populations are located quite closely, this one is distant and has comparatively darker yellow flowers.

This population was found at Fela vil., nr. Beysehir Golu, on habitat habitat by woody plantations. Its flowers are light yellow.

This population has more creamy yellow flowers and it was collected near turn to Akseki from Huģlu at alt. 1395 m.

Crocus dolatyarii was found only a year ago in Iran during search for another one new and very special crocus, area of which was still under snow, but just at snow line abundantly bloomed this beauty with very light blue, rarely darker or pure white flowers. Very few only!

This very special and beautiful crocus from Ikaria Island was named after great friend of me from Tasmania, Australia - Marcus Harvey. He was the person who sent me the first seeds of this crocus collected by him on this Greek Island. With the first blooming of it at me, it was clear that it is very different from C. nubigena as it was regarded before and needs proper name. Marcus up to his last year, when he lost the battle with cancer, every season visited Turkey, Balkans etc. collecting seeds for his nursery and always remembered about me, too. So I decided to name this species after him.

This seedling from ‘Carpathian Wonder’ was raised by Estonian bulb lower Taavi Tuulik and was found as self-sown seedling in his garden on Hiumaa Island.

This is crocus from Iranian Kurdistan, collected at several localities in vicinity of locus classicus and by flower quite similar, but other features still I didn't checked, so it is possible that some other still unknown species hides under this name, but this not makes it less beautiful. Limited stock!

This crocus was found along road from Saquez to Marivan on field covered with Anemone flowers - of course, at this time crocus was out of flowers, When it bloomed in my collection it something resembled Crocus iranicus, but not completely. Quite variable in flower colour. Up to now I simply hadn't time for more detailed observations on it.

Another crocus species which something resembles Crocus iranicus and was found on the highest pass along road from Saquez to Marivan and is located something closer to locus classicus of C. pseudoiranicus than to locus classicus of C. iranicus. Is it one or another - I'm not sure, may be even something else.