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.

Charming American Allium growing in small colonies with 2 wiry leaves curling around and above the flowers. In nature on shallowly depressions on serpentine outcrops which are moist through the winter and spring, drying by early summer. The pedicels are very short creating a crowded umbel of campanulate perianths with spreading to recurved tips. The tepals are a glistening white with a translucent of green midvein that ages to dark violet.

A Californian species similar to A. anceps and A. platycaule. The most obvious difference is the habitat - vernally moist, rocky clay flats. Petals are broader and flowers composed in 5 cm umbels on 10 cm scapes. Their colour ranges from palest pink to pale violet, with rose pink dominating. Unlike its relatives the heads do not break off in order to disperse the seed

The dense umbels of rich violet, urn-shaped flowers bear some resemblance to A. falcifolium with tapered but not strongly recurved tips. The solitary, cylindrical glaucous leaf curls from underneath the very short-stemmed umbel. From high altitudes on San Gabriel Mtns. in California, USA.

A dwarf “tumbleweed” allium from Blue Mountains in Oregon with lavender perianths in 3-5 cm large, compact umbels of pinkish flowers on short scapes. Leaves prostrate, narrow, sickle-shaped. Very few!

Easy and could be growable in rockery and exceptionally good show plant for exhibiting in pots.A brilliant rose-red form from Northern Sierra Nevada in California where it is growing at 1800-1900 m altitude.

A dwarf version of A. falcifolium. The leaves are distinctly narrower. The urn-shaped flowers have broader tepals with only slightly reflexed tips that are not as dramatically tapered. The flower colour varies from white to pale rose with a much darker mid vein. With age colour quickly changes to shades of rose-red to red violet often within the same inflorescence.

A beautiful American allium from gravely clay flats: very wet at flowering time, sun baked in late summer. From a pair of bold, broad, sickle-shaped leaves arises a 10 cm scape with 7.5 cm sphere of pink, vase-shaped flowers.

An uncommon allium of the Coast Ranges from Monterey Co. north to Oregon. This stock was raised in my nursery from wild collected seeds and is far better than plants offered by Dutch companies having shorter and stronger stem. In cultivation this onion can multiply vigorously when kept moist through flowering. The widely campanulate perianths are in pleasant shades of pink and rose. The pedicels are much longer than the perianths creating a small starburst inflorescence. Easily grown under most garden conditions.

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.

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.

An extraordinary species with a huge (up to 35 cm in diam.), lax flower head of greenish-white flowers on a 50 cm high stem, resembling fireworks exploding high in the sky. Good drainage is essential to book success with it.

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.

Excellent selection from plants collected at mid-course on way up by valley of river Pskem in Uzbekistan. Around 40 cm tall, very long lasting flowers.

This species traditionally has blackish-purple flowers in dense umbel and it flowers later than most of medium tall growing alliums. Offered is a very nice form, with small very dark, round flower-head on shorter (40 cm) stem. Collected near Of, in Turkey.

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 on Kopet-Dag mountains in 2008. Prefers well drained, sunny position. Excellent!

Flowers large, narrowly cup-shaped, facing upwards, purplish. In the beginning umbel is dense, later becomes lax due to the elongation of pedicels, which grow to different length. One of the most attractive alliums. Height 50 cm. Earlier was offered as “nuratense” or “iliense”.

Excellent species for growing in pots and in rockery from NW Iran and adjacent Armenia. Large flower-heads with wide tepals on short stem and with nice, sweet odor. Seem to be hardy here, but needs good drainage if grown outside.

A beautiful dwarf Allium species from Iran with a big, rounded umbel of large wide open star-like bright and shining reddish lilac-violet flowers formed by narrow pointed petals on a 10-15 cm tall stem between two broad elliptic leaves. One of the most spectacular Iranian alliums of this type.

Small growing Allium from Turkey flowering in mid-summer with diffuse perianth on around 20 cm long stem. Very good for pots and for rockery.

The dense flower umbels on c. 20 cm tall stalks are produced in early summer. They are packed with comparatively big, narrowly cup-shaped straw-coloured flowers, prominently veined bright purple both on mid-veins and the margins of segments. Exquisite. From arid, serpentine mountains.

Very large cup-shaped pink flowers in dense umbels make it distinctive and attractive. The offered form is only 30 cm in height. Its origin is from Mt. Olympus in Greece. An easy grower.

An excellent Turkish Allium species, which we collected on limestone rocks in Akdag where it was much shorter than in cultivation. Its stem is up to 40 cm tall with a large (up to 8 cm in diameter) dense white flower head well contrasting with the blackish green ovary. Anthers creamy yellow.

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.

Pale, raspberry pink flowers with white petal tips, each petal with a central darker stripe on both sides. Its dropping flowers are marvellous. Excellent miniature with stems 15-20 cm tall and comparatively large flowers for small rockery and exhibition pots

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.

One of my real favourites between Turkish Alliums which you can’t to misidentify for its very small individual florets (~2mm) which are arranged in large very dense flowerhead of amazing appearance, resembling small pussy-cat. Height can vary from 30-150 cm but my stock from roadside N of Antalya is of medium size – 50-70 cm tall and has pinkish shaded filaments adding especial beauty to this species.

This very rare species in wild was found on Nemrut-dag in Malatya Province of Turkey (there are another one Nemrut-dag near Lake Van) where it is growing on stony clay slopes. It is up to 30-40 cm tall with dense semispherical flowerhead, covered with white, occasionally at base purple toned flowers. Nice and well growing addition to any allium collection.

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 very dwarf and with brightest colour. Certainly worth of cultivars name. Flowers tested as food had a very pleasant taste and are useful as spice.

Abundantly blooming form of this allium growing wild in something moist spots, so, if you are planting it in pots, you must bring them out of greenhouse during summer hot. Excellent grower in garden but prefer something shaded spots, where can grow for years covering ground as snow for its bright white flowers - so abundant is its blooming. Not require replanting - can stay on place for years.

A close relative to the well-known A. schubertii (local botanists for a long time regarded it just as A. schubertii population out of general area), differs in more compact habit and here it is fully hardy in comparison with its ally. Height 30-40 cm. From S slopes of Sarimar mnt. (W end of SW Ghisar), southern Uzbekistan.

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.

Blooms in mid-summer making tight large umbels of white flowers on around 1 m long stem but spectacular from early spring due its fat, finger like leaves which can be used for "hot"salads and bulbs for baking. Excellent grower in garden and under cover in greenhouse.

Flowers metallic violet in very large (up to 15 cm in diameter) lax umbel on 70 cm stem. Leaves 2-4 broad, glossy green. Collected by Arnis Seisums in Baldjuan.

Large airy umbels of violet flowers on 80 cm stem. The centre of flower umbel (pedicels) light green or purple. Very well growing, beautiful form from Agalik valley near Samarkand, Seravschan mnt. range, Uzbekistan.

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.

Very spectacular dwarf Iranian allium from the same locality where I found later described Crocus gunae. Its main feature is dark purplish filaments (from which cames its name). Flowers in dense umbel between wide leaves, scape only 3-5 cm long. Very limited stock.

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. Comes from Siberia and Mongolia. 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.

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.

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,-

This Allium appeared among seedlings of A. nevskianum in the garden of E. Dambrauskas. Irrespective of the name, R. Fritsch found that the other parent was A. sarawschanicum. It combines the best features of both parents - large dense light purple flower heads on 50-60 cm tall stems, and it well keeps its leaves during the flowering time. Very different from my A. x nevsar.

A beautiful pure white windflower from Nahodka in Siberia. Flower sits in a rosette of nice bronze-tinged leaves. It is stockier and stouter in the overall appearance than A. nemorosa. Rhizomes short, white, prefers some shade. Due to its ornamentality included in the protected plant list. Extremely rare.

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.

Central Asian anemone originally collected near border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistamn in upper course of Pskem valley not far from vil. Pskem. Flowers usually pure yellow but between seedlings can appear forms with a blackish central stain. Little known in cultivation and by experience growable only in pots where can be protected against excessive moisture especially during summer rest, but blooms abundantly and well set seeds.

A small woodland perennial similar to Wood Anemones but later flowering. Distinctive trifoliate leaves and white anthers. Restricted range in the wild from Portugal to Hungary. Hardy. Ht. 20 cm. Forms slowly increasing clumps. March-May

One of those strange varieties which look so exotic, that attaches immediate attention of our visitors. Below the white semi-double flowers in some distance is another whorl of bract-like leaves partly transformed in white petal-like leaves, in same time some petals has greenish midrib. Flowers are quite variable, it isn’t easy to find two identical.

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!

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

One of the most unusual A. nemorosa varieties that it is very difficult to make a description of its flowers. Makes white flowers with petals wider than normal for the species, each with a loose central ruff of tiny green leaves amidst yellow anthers. Unlike any other clone and very lovely.

Another selection from Latvian bulb breeder Juris Egle with very rounded large flowers and yellowish shaded leaves.

Flowers light blue - another blue-flowering selection from "white windflower".

This one was registered by P. Christian and belongs to the group with white flowers backed with pink but with aging slowly turning throughout pink.

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.

Pinkish-white flowers, dark pink on reverse.

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.

The picture characterizes this unusual flower better than any words. From Hiumaa Island in Estonia.

Another fully double selection from Estonia

This fully double variety is named after another grandson of Taavi Tuulik's brother. Flowers with beautiful button-like double center over wide dish-like base formed by standart segments.

This variety is named after niece of Taavi Tuulik. Flowers with starry doubling, looking as small golden stars.

Flowers fully double with adpressed small petaloids, in the centre a bunch of upturned green pistil-like petals; overall, the flower resembles a rosette-like candlestick. Named after place where found in 2005.

This one was selected for its special shape of leaves.

Named after Taavi Tuulik's brothers granddaughter this cultivar has something smaller but very well filled flowers with around 80 petaloids looking as small golden yellow stars.

This variety was found at Nõmba in central Hiiumaa Island in 2008 and was named after Taavi Tuulik's friend. Flowers fully double but with smaller number of petaloids (~45) but here it is an advantage as allow to express the nicely waved edge of wide petaloids.

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.

Driving through Turkish Kurdistan we suddenly spotted on roadside slope inside spiny shrubs this huge Arum with longest spathe ever seen. Being short in time we stopped and tried to collect few tubers - self-sown seedlings, lying not so deep inside those shrubs. They grew well in our collections, bloomed and set seeds and now those seedlings can be offered to other lowers of Aroids.

One of the most beautiful aroids and what is unusual - sweetly scented. Originally from Karpathos Island (Greece); it is very compact and excellent for pots - real show-winner. Very limited stock!

Autumn blooming relative of Scilla, nicknamed also as the Japanese hyacinth, with dense light pink flower-spikes, reaching 30-35 cm length. Completely hardy but very good also in pots

Very recently published new species from Malatya province in Turkey, found not far from Nemrutdag. I intended to describe iot as new species, but Turkish botanists were faster... Veryu few bulbs only.

This stock originally was collected in Iran, but it has wider distribution in Iraq and Syria, too. Amazing plant, when it starts vegetation, you couldn't image that it is related to Muscari. Very limited stock!

Now it is mowed to genus Pseudomuscari where I replaced it and you can found it under updated name.

Flowers very dark dull blackish blue-violet, inside tinged green in large broad racemes between two linear basal leaves. Height 15-20 cm. E-Turkey, on wet meadows. Very easy in garden. My stock is raised up from wild collected seeds (near lake Van, E Turkey, BATM-100) and is virus-free.

Very well growing aroid, blooming late summer and wintering with leaves. With me one of the best growing biarums.

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.

Distinctive and very lovely dwarf species. Ideal for pot cultivation under alpine glass but also good in a raised bed of dwarf bulbous subjects where it will gently increase. Small, elongated bulbs give rise to clusters of medium sized pastel pink blooms in autumn. There are several 4cm flowers per shoot and larger corms will have at least two shoots, giving incredibly abundant blooming. Later comes out 3-4, narrow, shiny green leaves. Autumnal leaf emergence along with autumnal flowers in the genus Colchicum is quite rare feature, but it never suffered in our garden, too, although now I'm growing it only in pots.

A nice dwarf autumn-blooming species with campanulate bright lilac-rose flowers and contrasting yellow anthers. I offer high altitude form, received from Gothenburgh BG but originally collected in Turkey, E of Bozkir, it has proved hardy and adaptable in garden, making good increase from its small, thin, stoloniferous sideways creeping corms.

Real wild species and not the garden hybrid usually offered under this name. Bunches and bunches of bright pink-purple flowers occur in the middle of the Colchicum season. Offered is true wild form, which is not the largest between colchicums, but will enjoy you with a profusion of flowers in its bunches. It is wonderful, easy-growable and free-flowering species, has nothing common with usually under this name offered hybrids of unknown progeny from Dutch nurseries. Our stock was originally collected on Cilician Taurus after which this species is named during famous BATMAN expedition together with Gothenburg Botanical Garden.

Closely allied to Colchicum cupani but distinguished by Greuter by the presence of thin purple veins on the perianth segments. These petals are quite wide and of a soft, pale pink colour, rarely darker and are perfectly set off by the anthers which are deep red-brown before they ripen to yield yellow pollen. Perfectly growable outside and a lovely addition to the mid autumn species with its small, freely produced pink flowers in September. Likes full sun, good drainage.

This beautifull miniature autumn blooming colchicum is endemic of Crete. It blooms very long in autumn forming many nice light lilac flowers. Only problem is that you need carefully remowe all died flowers as they easy get Botrytis and it can contaminate leaves if not removed and this is dangerous for corms, too.

Winter and spring blooming species growing wild from South Central Turkey up to Iran. This stock was originally collected in Turkey and usually is forming up to 12 flowers from corm, Flowers variable – from white to light lilac. Very limited stock!

A new species, described in 1998 by Chris Brickell. Known from a small area of the Amanus Mountains in S. Turkey. It forms compact clusters of quite large, yet short-stemmed flowers in September with broad overlapping petals lightly chequered in pale pink-violet on whitish ground colour.

A small, neat, white to pink autumn-flowering species with a few glabrous, ligulate leaves. In ‘Flora of Turkey’, Chris Brickell includes the Turkish plants under C. troodii, described from Cyprus. This coll. is from near the type-locality for C. decaisnei in Turkey, Hatay province, between Antakya and Yayladagi.

Little known species from NW Iran and Azerbaijan, blooming early spring with white flowers. Rare and only very few offered.

This nice colchicum was found during BATMAN expedition held by Gothenburg Botanical garden and two Latvians - Arnis Seisums and me. When we saw this species we all immediately called - it is new one, so special it looked with its long leaves, so resembling hare ears, that name was attached immediately - it must be C. lagotis and very soon after returning it was published by Karin Persson from Gothenburg. Nice, good growing species, blooming in spring.

One of the smallest Colchicum species but blooms very abundantly. It is forming soboliiferous, horizontally positioned corms, A rare Turkish endemic. Three to four thin leaves are made, with the flowers, in early spring. The flowers are slender and starry, and of a lovely pale pink shade with golden yellow or greenish shaded anthers. A perfect miniature, for alpine house or frame which due its habit spreads easily making beautiful clumps. .

This species is growing in Armenia and collected there for me by my Armenian friends. It is very similar to Colchicum trigynum and Karin Persson list it between synonyms of the last, although there are some features allowing separating both, regardless of similarity.

It is my most favourite autumn blooming Colchicum species - small, abundantly blooming, with several very widely flaring, mid-sized rosy-lilac flowers and white-centre on short stems, close to the ground, early in the season. Completely hardy and good grower and increaser.

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.

Rare and charming Greek endemic from Mani peninsula, southern Taygetos mountains and NW of Monemvasia. Blooms from September till December, corms something stoloniferous. Being a very dwarf species, this is one of the last to flower in the autumn, making its very miniature, deep pink flowers in a long succession well into October and November. The petals are broad and overlapping, making for a lovely appearance and increase is also good.

Beautiful light lilac flowers in early spring with narrowly elliptic segments and bright orange spots at the base of filaments and with black anthers (pollen yellow). Usually 2-5, sometimes up to 8 flowers per bulb. Leaves canaliculate, 1-3(-7) mm wide. Originally collected in Turkey, near Gaziantep.

A spring-flowering species. Flowers pinkish white among narrow leaves. Prefers well-drained, sandy soils and the sun. Bulbs stoloniferous. Slowly spreads by stolons if left undisturbed. Easy.

In our opinion one of the best spring flowering species with large, pure snow-white flowers. In spring 1997 in full flowers it survived several nights of -15 C without any protection and even after such severe conditions for two weeks it continued to bloom and even gave a good seed crop. This stock originally was collected by Arnis Seisums in Armenia. It even is self-seeding into his gardens lawn.

A dwarf spring-flowering species, widely spread from Spain to Turkey, but hardly ever seen outside of the mountain pastures that it inhabits. Three small leaves gives its name, and pale- to mid-pink, goblet-shaped flowers appear in March. These have black anthers, which open yellow from pollen colour. Excellent in a pot, good enough for the garden.

Spring blooming species growing wild in Armenia, variable by colour and very local endemic. Great rarity and still practically unknown in cultivation. Originally was collected by my Ukrainian friend Dimitri Zubov.

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.

This subsp. in the wild grows very far from the typical subsp. of C. caucasica - in NW Turkey, near Lake Abant and can be easily separated from the typical form by its densely-flowered not one-sided racemes and differently shaped lower petal. Flowers are large, light purple with a nice honey scent. I got only 2 tubers of this form from a Czech collector but it perfectly grows from seed. A self-incompatible species.

Corydalis gorinensis is one of the rarest and most difficult species in cultivation, known wild only from one cliff in remote Siberian corner, far from civilisation, surrounded by unpassable bogs. I lost my single plant of this incredibly beautiful species but it yielded some seeds before disappear. I hoped them will come up true, but they turned hybrids, although very unusual and variable in colour and foliage, and most surprisingly they turned fertile.

Beautiful and variable species from E Balkans (Aegean region) and NW Anatolia (Turkey). Easy to grow, but likes some shade (in wild grows on N faced hills). Flower colour variable from almost white to light pink with inner petals tipped blackish purple.

One of those species that have changed their names many times. Several years ago I offered it under the name C. vittae, later as C. teberdensis, but the priority belongs to the epithet C. kusnetzovii. This beautiful Caucasian species has soft creamy pinkish white flowers in dense racemes. Collected near Teberda, Caucasus.

Flowers of a very delicate shape, light pinkish purple with a dark purple nose in quite loose but long spikes giving the plant a quiet charm. Easy in garden and even self-seeding. Collected near Oreanda in Crimea, Ukraine before Russian occupation.

A species of unclear taxonomical position, considered by Russian botanists as C. subremota but regarded by M. Liden and H. Zetterlund as a subsp. of C. solida complex. Flowers bluish-violet, finely divided foliage. Collected by Baltic expedition in locus classicus near Krasnojarsk in Siberia, very far from Europe where true C. solida is distributed in nature. Great rarity.

Slender, creeping stems with surprisingly large flowers of white or pale pink with a slightly darker nose and slightly pale apex. Good garden plant but this is also an excellent plant for pot cultivation under cold glass, making a very good display.

The correctly named plant and not malkensis - although by colour both are something similar the two are very different species. Corydalis vittae has densely packed flowers that open greenish-white and mature to pure snow-white. They are smaller than in C. malkensis and flowering is much later and lasts longer than any other species. A very worthwhile garden species, not needing any special treatment and happy in humus-enriched soil in part shade. I even gave to it nickname "Touch of Gold" as greenish shade of buds before whitening gets some golden tint.

Beautiful abundantly blooming seedling - light violet with white.

Flowers long, pure white with very delicate pinkish purple rim at edge of petals. Long upturned spurs and red pedicels add additional charm to this beauty named in honour of my youngest granddaughter.

One of the deepest-coloured forms of the so-called ‘Kissproof’ type. This form has a very wide deep bluish lilac edge on the white petals and a slightly lilac-tinted end of the spur.

Flowers white with light pink shading on petals, spur held almost horizontal, almost white. Flowers arranged in tall strong, erect spikes.

Flowers with a very bright reddish purple spur and dark purple outer petals, the inner petals very light pink, almost white. A very good contrast.

Flowers throughout in an unusual uniform bright pinkish lilac tint, only the underside of the lower petal is deep dark purple. Another of my “new generation” seedlings.

A clone selected by Dr. A. Seisums from the extremely variable ‘Penza’ strain. Its main differences are the very early flowering (in comparison with other red clones that usually bloom later), stocky habit, relatively less divided leaves and bigger bright-coloured flowers. Very limited stock.

One of the darkest purple seedlings. Very limited stock.

This variety is raised in Czech Republic and has beautiful throughout bright soft pink flowers; only inner petals are tinged bordo red. Large, dense spikes.

STILL VERY FEW COPIES LEFT! In this Monograph are results of my more than 50 years long experience growing crocuses and in it is included descriptions of all 235 species of crocuses known at 1st December 2016. The descriptions are supplied with distribution maps, colour pictures, are included information about growing, morphologie of crocuses and key for all species included in this monograph, which is real Encyclopedia of crocuses. The size of book is 568 pages (A-4) and it is richly illustrated (more than 1700 colour pictures). Unfortunately since 1st of January, 2020, Latvian Post cancelled special postage rate for books and now postage costs significantly rised. This year again postage costs was raised, so now I can sell book for EU - 50,- Euro including postage. For out of EU postage costs depends from country (for example, sending to Australia will cost me 40,- EU in damage safe packing, or 30,- Eu in size 18 bubble envelope). Book always is posted separately from plants. You can order book writing to me by e-mail janis.bulb@hawk.lv

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 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.

At this moment I regard it only as unusual form of C. armeniensis with light creamy anthers and deep yellow throat. It is known only from two initial corms collected somewhere near vil. Vahagni in Armenia. My late friend Zhirair Basmajyan finally found its wild population, but my trip to Armenia was annulled due his tragic death (he was killed by robber in his summer house) and later attempt to visit Armenia - by Covid. So its status still remain under question.

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,

Excellent selection made by my Czech friend Vaclav from plants collected by us inside ruins of Roman city Ariasos with dark bright violet flowers. Could be different species, usually regarded as "pallasii" but true pallasii is not growing in this region. Comparing with most close by growing area C. asumaniae (epithet of which I aplied for it here) it has atypical flower colour. In same place were collected some plants closely resembling C. kofudagensis as well. So correct name for this one still is unclear, but it is good grower in open garden as well as in pots regardless of applied name..

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

Beautiful species from Crocus speciosus group with many-branched style hidden between anthers allowing its easy separation from the other species in this group. It raised my attention as being something special long before it was published as distinct species.

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.

Quite a variable species with a whitish ground colour densely striped purple sometimes confluent at the tips, with very prominent deep yellow spots at the base of the flower segments. Very beautiful. Corms positioned in the soil vertically. Not difficult and here grows even outside.

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..."

Crocus clusii belongs to a group of three closely related autumn-blooming species from the western corner of the genus range. B. Mathew regarded them as subspecies of C. serotinus, but morphologically they are sufficiently distinct to be considered as different species. C. clusii replaces C. serotinus to the north of the Lisbon area and in north-west and south-west Spain as far as Cádiz. Although the areas of both species overlap, they can be distinguished by the much more finely netted tunics in C. clusii. It is also leafier and produces 4 to 7 leaves per corm.

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.

This form of Crocus dispathaceus was originally collected during one of the first trips of our team to Turkey between Akseki and Seydishekir at altitude 1300 m. Although growing more to the West by all features it is typical C. dispathaceus. It seem that crocus dispathaceus has very wide distribution area to West even after Mugla and quite far to North (B-2 by Turkish Flora gridlines).

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.

Crocus hadriaticus mostly has white flowers with distinctly yellow throat. Offered are stocks grown from wild collected seeds, so they are variable in colour of throat and flower tube.

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.

Just at Christmas of 2018 I 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 from me, by Erick Pasche and by J. Person from Gothenburg Botanic Garden. Offered is stock JP-8837 originally collected already in 1988 with lovely light violet, darker striped flowers and +/- confluent large yellow-orange blotches at the base giving an impression of an orange throat.

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.

This is the most westerly occurring representative from large C. speciosus group, growing wild in W Greece. It has purplish striped cataphylls, similar cataphylls have only two other species from this group - most easterly growing C. zubovii and C. xantholaimos, growing midway between both its relatives.

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 some 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!

This exceptional hybrid was selected in my nursery from seedlings of subsp. ilgazensis and it somewhat resembles C. pulchellus in colour (white anthers, a deep yellow throat) but the flowers are larger with pointed tepals and prominent veining like in C. speciosus. Anthers well overtop the slightly branched stigma. A real beauty and good grower. Earlier was offered under name 'Fantasy' but later some Dutch company gave same name to some spring blooming crocus, so I was forced to rename mine, to avoid misunderstanding. I never registered my hybrids, always they were registered by other growers or by KAVB. Excellent grower in outside garden, too.

This beautiful crocus has pure white flowers, sometimes only slightly tinged lilac and something resembles C. asumaniae growing quite far from it. Most distinct feature is very long pistil splitting only over tips of anthers. Recently was found that it is quite widely distributed and plants earlier regarded as "C. mathewii without purple in throat" really are C. kofudagensis and there are quite large proportion of light lilac individuals in other populations and such appear between seedlings of my stock as well.

Found by H. Kerndorff & E. Pasche in Hatay province of Turkey near Alanyayla, S of Antakya at altitude 1200 m. Flowers are light violet with darker stripes and creamy yellow throat edged by narrow dark yellow „v” shaped edge but main featurer separating it from other stocks of C. kotschyanus s.l. is its stoloniferous habit. It makes smaller corms, too. Most likely it belongs to another one, still undescribed species, more related to C. hatayensis, having same chromosome number, but forming leaves only in spring and by this and some other features it more resembles typical C. kotschyanus from Cilician Taurus.

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.

Earlier known as subspecies of C. cancellatus this beautiful crocus now is regarded as separate species – so distinct from C. cancellatus it is. Flowers pure white with a contrasting deep yellow throat complemented with a deep orange-red finely divided red style that fills the centre of the flower like flickering flames.

This late autumn blooming crocus is allied to C. pallasii but easy separable by corm tunics and leaves. It was discovered quite long ago but carefully researched and described very recently by Janis. It well set seeds but hand pollination is recommended because it blooms late when natural pollinators here are rare. In my nursery last autumn it bloomed throughout November up to Christmas. Very few.

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.

One of the most variable and beautiful in colour former subsp. of C. cancellatus. Colour varies from whitish to violet variously striped on the back and with the throat from white to purple, in best forms with purple stripes and with an orange to deep red varyingly branched style. Easy growing form from Samos Island of Greece in East Aegean Sea. Certainly it is new, still unpublished species.

An autumn-blooming member of the large C. biflorus group from Greece earlier wrongly named as „C. crewei”. Flowers are white marked with small, deeply coloured, almost black, stripes on the outside, rarely stippled grey. The anthers are with a black connective, rarely entirely black, but sometimes yellow. A very distinct and attractive plant with a nice honey scent. This year the most attractive form, originally collected by Brian Mathew already in 1980, when he worked on his monograph.

Althought the name means ‘snow-white’, more often in trade are offered forms with slightly bluish flowers. The colour varies from white to light blue and it flowers in October. One of the best autumn crocuses.

Large, vivid and richly coloured deep violet flowers on long tubes open from September. Needs a damp, humus rich soil to do well, and does not need a hot dry rest in summer! It produces stolones and could naturalise in short managed grass where it can slowly spread. Can be grown outside here.

This is a very nice crocus, blooming with moderately large flowers that are carried on comparatively long tubes. Quite often the outer segments open wider than the inner ones. It is a good grower in the greenhouse, well multiplies by corm splitting and sets seed readily, although hand pollination is essential for two reasons – firstly, the species blooms here late when natural pollinators for the most part are absent, and secondly, in milder climates it easily hybridises with other species. Not difficult but must be kept somewhat cooler in summer than its relatives.

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.

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.

Beautifull light bluish lilac flowers with deep yellow throat, which provides excellent contrast to show off the white anthers that, characterise this beautiful Turkish species very rarely offered. Our plants comes from several localities E from Antalya up to Mersin in South Turkey. Very limited stock.

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.

Unique crocus from Crete. Before I found this one, was supposed that there are only 2 yellow crocuses which blooms in autumn - C. scharojanii and C. lazicus. This beauty from Crete although is not yellow throughout - inner petals and flowers inside is white, but in buds and half-open they are really yellow. Flowers comes out one after other and last autumn it bloomed around month long. Very few corms only!

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.

Assumed to be an autumn-flowering mutation of C. atticus, it has retained the large size of lilac to white flowers and in most cases has a large dark yellow throat, which sometimes is pale or surrounded by a white border like in the well-known spring cv. ‘Tricolor’. There are two, geographically isolated populations of what was once thought to be all Crocus robertianus. Most likely both represent two distinct although morphological similar species. Certainly, scientific examination of the DNA confirms that this southerly collection is not the same species as robertianus from type locality in Pindus Mountains. I only recently got material from the type locality of robertianus so further research will be applied. Offered stock comes from southern population and was collected not far from Varnakovo Monastery,

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.

I was very lucky finding nice population of this beautiful crocus during my single, very short trip to Portugal. It was out of flowers, but foliage and corm tunics immediately allowed identification. I was very happy finding it as most of cultivated stocks are virus infected. The first autumn confirmed identification and greeted me with abundant blooming. Very limited stock. 15,-

Large, soft violet flowers from September onwards. An excellent form of this variable species from Andalucia in Spain where it grows at 1200 m. Flowers light lilac, nicely feathered and without leaves at flowering time. A good easily growing crocus, but here I can grow it only with winter protection.

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. My stock represents Iranian populations and was collected on saffron field during stop of our bus for tire change.

This beautiful crocus was discovered in NE Turkey and published by Kerndorff and Pasche in 2013. At same locality I collected few corms of this species already earlier, but... So priority belongs to them. Now iot increased with me and few corms can be offered for other crocus lovers.

This is one of the first crocuses to start flowering after the summer rest. Similar to C. vallicola but without the conspicuous wispy tips of the perianth segments. Usually flowers are white, more or less lilac striped, especially in the throat, but between them can occur some lilac toned individuals. Corm lies on its side and needs dryer growing conditions.

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.

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.

Flowers in a very beautiful light bright blue shade with a very contrasting bright yellow base. Originally collected at 1700 m near Lake Abant, NW Turkey. Very beautiful and not difficult in the garden. It is growing better in open garden, because in greenhouse usually is too hot for it. I'm each spring just after blooming bringing its pots into garden.

During my visits to Aban heights I found only 2 albinos, they were not purest glistening white but very slightly bluish shaded. Regardless of this - very charming [plants. Now they increased something, so few can be offered to my customers, but stock still is very limited.

I like the HARRY POTTER series very much (maybe I am approaching my second childhood), therefore when among C. abantensis seedlings I found this so unusually coloured specimen with the white and blue striped colour pattern resembling prisoners clothing during the last century, I immediately knew the right name. Excellent and unusual.

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.

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).

Although superficially quite similar, cytological researches partly based on samples from my collection, showed that under this name are covered at least 5 different species. This year I offer here "Cytotype I" originally it was collected 30 km from Beypazari along road to Bolu, 2 km before Ahlatlik gec. at altitude 0f 1590 m. This citotype is cross-able with Crocus abantensis and the hybrid was named by HKEP as Crocus x paulineae

Flowers rich Indian-yellow to orange with a deep lustrous purple striping and feathering on petal backs. Taller and more vigorous than the old Dutch forms of this species. From near Oreanda (Krestovaja Gora), Crimea (R-8306) originally collected by me in 1983.

The plants grown in horticulture as Crocus antalyensis have been separated off by me as a new species - Crocus antalyensioides. The new species has a distribution within Turkey which is much more to the north of the range of what is now regarded as proper C. antalyensis. C. antalyensioides is certainly easier and hardier in cultivation as well as being more robust in growth with larger flowers which may explain its recent, wider spread in cultivation. In nature I found only its blue forms with rare albinos occuring between seedlings. What exactly is yellow forms - I don't know. May be it is wider variation of colour in nature, may be they rised in cultivation and really are hybrids with closely related C. mouradii because they appeared in seed-raised stock of the blue form of Crocus antalyensioides which in turn was raised from a stock originally produced by Willem van Eeden in the Netherlands. The yellow forms vary from strong deep yellow, like flavus, to paler primrose forms. Requires deep planting, I'm using 20 cm deep pots, placing corms at depth of 10-15 cm, then they forms large corms and abundantly blooms. Shallower planted are good increasers, but forms smaller corms which produce less flowers.

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.

A very abundantly blooming crocus from Greece forming large rounded lilac flowers with a deep yellow throat. Very tolerant to winter conditions here and a good grower even outside where it excellently increases. Stock was collected just near Athens, and has nothing common with stocks offered under this name by Dutch nurseries..

It has been known quite well and is being grown in several collections for some time already but then it was regarded as a white form of C. punctatus. When looking more closely the differences are easily seen. The anthers in C. punctatus always have black basal lobes, never seen in C. babadagensis, and their tips are never greyish-tinted.

C. balansae is easily recognizable and separable from its close relative C. olivieri by its much-branched style that is divided into 12 to 15 branches. During flowering it requires lots of water as in the wild it sometimes grows in spots that get flooded in early spring, but summers there are hot and dry. It is not commercial form but originating from Samos Island in E Aegean Sea, where it is growing together with C. seisumsiana and some autumn blooming crocuses.