Crocus tommasinianus

Crocus tommasinianus

Crocus tommasinianus is otherwise known as snow Crocus as it is one of the first crocuses to bloom during Winter. Originally found in the hillsides of Hungary, the small dainty purple crocus sticks its head up before the last snow storm to fall in March comes. It usually blooms in late Winter to early Spring and plants grow to 4” tall.

In our case, two Nor-easters have occurred while the Crocus have emerged from the ground. They are the first signs of spring along with the winter aconite and the Adonis amurensis (Adonis/Pheasant’s-eye) and can be found in the Wild Garden and alongside the path to the Wild Garden.

The specific epithet name is in honor of Muzo Guiseppe Spirito de Tommasini (1974-1879) a botanist from Trieste.