Crocus tommasinianus 'Hummingbird' is a beautiful early-flowering crocus with bright violet-blue flowers that bring welcome colour to the garden towards the end of winter. Small but eye-catching, its elegant goblet-shaped blooms open widely in sunshine to reveal contrasting golden-orange stamens.

Like other forms of Crocus tommasinianus, 'Hummingbird' is particularly good for naturalising. Plant the corms beneath deciduous trees, through lawns, along woodland edges or amongst other early spring bulbs, and they can gradually establish into attractive drifts. Reaching just 10-15cm tall, it is also perfectly suited to rockeries, gravel gardens and the front of borders.

• Botanical name: Crocus tommasinianus 'Hummingbird'
• Flower colour: violet-blue to purple
• Bulb size: 5/+
• Established height: 10-15cm
• Flowering time: late winter to early spring
• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: well-drained soil
• Hardiness: hardy
• Suitable for: naturalising, lawns, borders, rockeries and beneath deciduous trees

About Crocus 'Hummingbird'

'Hummingbird' is a selected cultivar of Crocus tommasinianus, an early-flowering species prized for its delicate appearance and ability to naturalise. The slender buds emerge close to the ground before developing into graceful violet-blue flowers. In bright weather the petals spread open, displaying their vivid orange-yellow stamens and giving the flowers a much larger appearance.

The blooms are complemented by narrow, grass-like green leaves, each carrying the characteristic pale central stripe associated with crocuses. The compact foliage allows 'Hummingbird' to fit easily between other plants without becoming intrusive.

An Early Burst of Violet-Blue

One of the main attractions of 'Hummingbird' is just how early it can bring colour into the garden. The flowers appear while many herbaceous plants are still dormant, providing splashes of violet, blue and purple amongst otherwise bare borders and lawns.

Planting the corms in generous groups creates the strongest display. They work particularly well alongside white snowdrops, yellow winter aconites and other early crocuses, where their cool violet-blue colouring provides an attractive contrast.

Growing Crocus tommasinianus 'Hummingbird'

Plant the corms in autumn in well-drained soil. Choose a position in full sun or partial shade and avoid areas that remain permanently waterlogged during winter. Beneath deciduous trees and shrubs is particularly suitable, as the plants receive plenty of sunlight during their flowering period before the overhead canopy develops.

After flowering, leave the foliage in place until it has yellowed and died back naturally. Although the leaves are small, they are important because they replenish the corms and help produce the following year's flowers.

Perfect for Naturalising

Crocus tommasinianus cultivars are among the most useful crocuses for informal planting, and 'Hummingbird' is an excellent choice for creating a natural-looking display. Rather than planting in straight rows, scatter the corms and plant them where they fall to create irregular groups.

In suitable conditions the plants can gradually increase, producing larger colonies over the years. This makes 'Hummingbird' especially effective in lawns, grassy banks, beneath trees and in areas where bulbs can be left relatively undisturbed.

Growing Crocus 'Hummingbird' in Lawns

When planting in grass, choose an area where mowing can be delayed after flowering. The foliage should be allowed to remain until it begins to die back naturally, giving the corms enough time to store energy for the following year.

Once established, groups of 'Hummingbird' can produce a charming meadow-like effect, with violet-blue flowers appearing through the grass before the main spring growing season begins.

Early Flowers for Bees

The early flowering period also makes 'Hummingbird' useful for wildlife-friendly planting. Its open flowers can provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects active during mild spells in late winter and early spring, when relatively few other garden plants are flowering.

For a longer season of early colour and forage, combine it with other crocuses, snowdrops and winter aconites with overlapping flowering periods.

Why Grow Crocus 'Hummingbird'?

• Bright violet-blue to purple flowers
• Flowers very early in the season
• Excellent for naturalising
• Ideal for planting through lawns
• Suitable beneath deciduous trees and shrubs
• Compact 10-15cm growth
• Hardy and easy to establish
• Suitable for rockeries and border edges
• Provides early flowers for pollinating insects
• Can gradually form attractive colonies

With its vivid colouring, compact habit and ability to naturalise, Crocus tommasinianus 'Hummingbird' is a lovely choice for bringing the garden to life at the very beginning of spring. Plant in groups for immediate impact or allow it to gradually establish into informal drifts for a display that can become better with each passing year.