{"product_id":"crocus-queen-bee-corms","title":"Crocus 'Queen Bee' Corms","description":"\u003cp\u003eCrocus 'Queen Bee' is an unusual early-flowering crocus with distinctive bi-coloured flowers in rich maroon and warm yellow. Its bold combination of dark and bright tones makes it an eye-catching choice for adding colour to the garden during the latter part of winter and the beginning of spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFlowering from January through to March and growing to around 15cm tall, 'Queen Bee' is compact enough for rockeries, border edges and containers. Its flowers are smaller than those of the Dutch large-flowered crocuses, but they offer a much more unusual colour combination and look particularly effective when planted in groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crocus 'Queen Bee'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e bi-coloured maroon and yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering time:\u003c\/strong\u003e January-March\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e approximately 15cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun or light shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e fertile, well-drained soil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting time:\u003c\/strong\u003e autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e borders, rockeries, containers and naturalising\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Crocus 'Queen Bee'\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe main attraction of 'Queen Bee' is its distinctive two-tone colouring. Rich maroon combines with golden yellow to produce flowers that stand apart from the more familiar white, purple and plain yellow crocuses. The contrast is especially noticeable when several corms are planted together to form a small drift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSlender, grass-like foliage appears alongside the flowers, keeping the overall appearance neat and compact. On bright days the blooms open to reveal their colourful interiors, while during dull or cold weather they remain more tightly closed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEarly Colour from January to March\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCrocus 'Queen Bee' flowers between January and March, providing colour at a time when many garden plants are still dormant. The exact flowering period will vary according to weather and local growing conditions, but it is an excellent bulb for extending the spring display towards the beginning of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts rich maroon and yellow colouring works particularly well alongside pale crocuses in white, cream or soft blue. Alternatively, plant 'Queen Bee' by itself in larger groups to make its unusual colour pattern the focus of the display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Crocus 'Queen Bee' in the UK\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Crocus 'Queen Bee' corms during autumn in a position receiving plenty of winter and early spring sunshine. Full sun is ideal, although light shade beneath deciduous trees and shrubs is also suitable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose fertile, well-drained soil and avoid positions that remain persistently waterlogged. If your garden has heavy clay soil, improving the planting area with grit can help provide the sharper drainage crocus corms prefer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIdeal for Rockeries and Borders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 15cm tall, 'Queen Bee' is ideal for planting towards the front of borders or amongst low-growing plants in a rockery. Its compact habit means it can also be tucked between herbaceous perennials, flowering before neighbouring plants produce their main flush of spring growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant the corms in groups rather than as isolated specimens. A cluster of flowers produces a much stronger display and allows the contrasting maroon and yellow colouring to make a greater impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Crocus 'Queen Bee' in Containers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCrocus 'Queen Bee' is well suited to pots, troughs and window boxes. Containers are particularly useful for displaying smaller crocuses because they allow the intricate flowers to be appreciated at close range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant several corms together in good-quality, free-draining compost. 'Queen Bee' can be combined with miniature narcissi and other early bulbs, or mixed with contrasting white and blue crocuses for a varied spring container.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eNaturalising Crocus 'Queen Bee'\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Queen Bee' can also be incorporated into informal bulb plantings beneath deciduous trees, along border edges and through areas of short grass where drainage is suitable. Plant the corms in irregular groups to create a more natural appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter flowering, leave the narrow foliage in place until it has yellowed and died back naturally. The leaves continue feeding the corm after flowering and help build the energy reserves needed for the following year's growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEarly Flowers for Pollinators\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEarly crocuses are useful additions to wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Their flowers can provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects emerging during mild spells in late winter and early spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing several different crocus varieties can help provide a succession of flowers, while also creating an attractive mixture of colours across the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Flowering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOnce established, Crocus 'Queen Bee' requires little maintenance. Allow the foliage to die back naturally and avoid cutting it while it is still green. Once dormant, the corms can generally remain undisturbed in the soil until growth begins again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn suitable conditions, established groups can return each spring, providing an increasingly attractive display of early-season colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Grow Crocus 'Queen Bee'?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistinctive bi-coloured flowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnusual combination of maroon and yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarly flowering from January to March\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact height of approximately 15cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for rockeries and border edges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent for pots and containers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuitable for informal and naturalised planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides useful early flowers for pollinating insects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its unusual combination of rich maroon and warm yellow, Crocus 'Queen Bee' is a distinctive addition to an early spring bulb collection. Compact, colourful and easy to incorporate into borders or containers, it provides welcome interest from January through to March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\n 1\/2","brand":"Jacques Amand","offers":[{"title":"10 Corms","offer_id":62373034557827,"sku":"JA-C7594x10","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"100 Corms","offer_id":62373034590595,"sku":"JA-C7594x100","price":79.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 Corms","offer_id":62373034623363,"sku":"JA-C7594x1000","price":719.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0108\/3418\/2207\/files\/Image_coming_soon_286114a3-e8f5-4a3b-8bd1-038d2c09eccb.webp?v=1767358606","url":"https:\/\/gardenwildlife.com\/products\/crocus-queen-bee-corms","provider":"Garden Wildlife","version":"1.0","type":"link"}