Crocus 'Blue Bird' is a delightful early-flowering crocus with beautifully contrasting blooms. The outer petals are washed with bluish violet and edged in white, while the flowers open to reveal a clean white interior surrounding a soft yellow centre and bright orange stigmas.

Flowering from January through to March, 'Blue Bird' provides welcome colour at a time when much of the garden is still dormant. Growing to just 5-10cm tall, it is perfect for planting in lawns, rockeries, borders and containers, where the flowers can be enjoyed at close range.

• Variety: Crocus 'Blue Bird'
• Flower colour: white with bluish-violet outer petals and a pale yellow centre
• Flowering time: January-March
• Height: 5-10cm
• Position: full sun or light shade
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
• Planting time: autumn
• Suitable for: lawns, borders, rockeries, containers and naturalising

About Crocus 'Blue Bird'

'Blue Bird' belongs to a group of smaller-flowered crocuses valued for their delicate blooms and varied colour combinations. Although the individual flowers are smaller than those of the familiar Dutch Large Flowering Crocuses, they make up for their size with character and an exceptionally pretty appearance.

'Blue Bird' is particularly attractive because the flowers look different depending on whether they are open or closed. On cool or overcast days, the bluish-violet colouring on the outside of the petals is particularly noticeable. In sunshine, the flowers open to reveal their predominantly white interiors.

Beautiful Two-Tone Flowers

The outer surfaces of the petals combine soft bluish violet with contrasting white margins. As the flower opens, a white interior and subtle yellow colouring towards the base become visible, finished with prominent orange stigmas at the centre.

This combination of cool blue, violet and white tones with a warm centre makes 'Blue Bird' easy to combine with other early spring bulbs. Planting the corms in groups rather than individually creates the strongest display.

Early Colour from January to March

One of the biggest attractions of Crocus 'Blue Bird' is its early flowering season. Blooms can appear from January and continue into March, depending on local weather and growing conditions.

The flowers respond strongly to sunshine, opening on bright days and closing again during dull weather and towards evening. A sunny position therefore gives the best opportunity to enjoy the flowers fully open.

Growing Crocus 'Blue Bird' in the UK

Plant the corms during autumn in well-drained soil. Choose a position in full sun or light shade, avoiding ground that remains persistently waterlogged during winter.

Crocuses work particularly well beneath deciduous trees and shrubs because they can receive plenty of light early in the year before the overhead canopy develops. They can also be planted between later-emerging perennials, providing colour before the surrounding plants begin active growth.

Naturalising in Lawns

'Blue Bird' is a lovely choice for naturalising through grass. Plant the corms in informal groups or scatter them across the planting area before planting wherever they fall for a less regimented appearance.

After flowering, allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally before mowing the area. The leaves replenish the corms and help prepare them for the following year's display.

Perfect for Rockeries and Borders

With a height of only 5-10cm, Crocus 'Blue Bird' fits easily into rockeries and the front of borders. Its small size makes it particularly effective alongside other compact spring bulbs and low-growing alpine plants.

For an attractive early display, combine it with snowdrops, winter aconites, miniature narcissi and other crocuses. Its unusual blue-white colouring provides a useful contrast to the yellows that are common amongst early spring flowers.

Growing Crocuses in Containers

'Blue Bird' is equally suitable for pots, window boxes and mixed bulb containers. Plant several corms together for a concentrated display, either on their own or combined with other small spring bulbs.

Use a good-quality, free-draining compost and make sure containers have adequate drainage holes. Pots can be positioned close to doors, patios and windows where the delicate flowers are easy to appreciate during late winter.

Valuable Early Flowers for Pollinators

Early-flowering crocuses can also provide a useful source of pollen and nectar for insects emerging during mild spells in late winter and early spring. On sunny days, their open flowers may attract early bees when relatively few other garden plants are flowering.

Planting crocuses alongside a range of other early-flowering bulbs and perennials can help provide a longer succession of flowers as the garden moves into spring.

After Flowering

Once flowering has finished, leave the narrow foliage in place until it has yellowed naturally. Avoid cutting or tying the leaves while they are still green, as they are helping the corms build up energy for the following season.

In suitable well-drained conditions, the corms can remain in the ground and gradually establish into larger groups, providing an increasingly impressive display over subsequent years.

Why Grow Crocus 'Blue Bird'?

• Beautiful bluish-violet and white flowers
• Contrasting pale yellow centres
• Flowers from January to March
• Compact height of just 5-10cm
• Excellent for naturalising in lawns
• Ideal for rockeries and border edges
• Perfect for pots and mixed bulb containers
• Provides valuable flowers during late winter and early spring

Delicate but distinctive, Crocus 'Blue Bird' is a lovely choice for bringing colour to the garden at the very beginning of the growing season. Its unusual combination of bluish-violet, white and yellow gives it plenty of character, while its compact habit makes it easy to grow in lawns, rockeries, borders and containers.