Early Crocus - Crocus tommasinianus

Crocus tommasinianus has long tubed flowers which appear in early spring, as the narrow leaves emerge; the flowers vary from lilac to deep purple, sometimes paler outside. In this species the throat has no yellow and the flowers have white outer tepals.

Usually introduced along roadsides and streamsides or found where garden waste containing the bulbs has been deposited.

Flowering in the first three months of the year and normally in flower a couple of weeks before other purple crocus species.

Perennial.

Widespread as an introduction or garden escape in most parts of Britain.

It probably occurs fairly frequently as an introduction or garden escape in Leicestershire and Rutland, but was little recorded in the past. It was not included in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.