Perhaps the easiest of crocuses to grow, these lovely blue flowers which are a shining silver-grey on the outside with bright yellow anthers, are one of the best to naturalize as they will self-seed readily and also increase by offsets. They do very well in short grass, are hardy throughout the United States and are always a welcome sight in late winter. They are also magnets for any insects that may be active so early in the year. This plant received the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Germination Instructions:
Sow seeds at any time, covering them very thinly with compost or grit, keeping the seed pot in a cool, well-lit spot outdoors. Artificial heat is not needed and can prevent germination so be very patient as many species will only germinate in the spring after chilling or freezing in the moist seed pot in the winter. Grow on individual seedlings in small pots until of sufficient size to be potted on or planted out into the open ground. For indoor planting, sow the seeds in a community pot or tray or in slightly seed starting mix in a ziplock baggie and keep warm (the top of a fridge works great for this) for 3-4 weeks. Then place in the fridge for another 4-6 weeks. Then bring back into warm (room temperature or warmer) temperatures and wait anywhere from 14-60 days or more for 100% germination; the germination will be staggered, so do not discard your tray prematurely! The "staggering" is natures way of ensuring some of the seedlings survive the initial growth in early Spring.