Autumn crocus pot display

Autumn crocus pot display

Find out how to plant autumn crocus bulbs in summer for an attractive display during the autumn months.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is not at its best in June

Plant is not at its best in July

Plant is not at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is at its best in October

Plant is at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Autumn crocus, Crocus speciosus, has lilac-blue flowers, with dark veins and white throats. They make a glorious display from September to November.

Autumn crocus look great planted in pots or in borders, where they look good under deciduous shrubs, where they will spread and colonise over the years. They like a sunny spot.

Plant bulbs in drifts, 10cm deep in summer, in gritty, well-drained soil, or plant in pot in a bright, warm spot outdoors.

Here’s how to plant autumn crocus in a pot.

Autumn crocus, Crocus speciosus, makes a glorious display from September to November.
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You Will Need

  • Autumn crocus corms, Crocus speciosus
  • Terracotta pot
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Crocks

Total time:

Step 1

Half fill a pot with good quality, peat-free compost.

Adding compost to the pot
Adding compost to the pot

Step 2

Space out the corms 3-4cm apart, planting right up to the edges of the pot to make full use of the compost surface.

Planting the crocus corms
Planting the crocus corms

Step 3

Top up the pot with more compost and lightly firm. The finished surface should be just below the pot rim.

Covering the corms with compost
Covering the corms with compost

Step 4

Water in well and place the pot in a bright, warm spot outside. Keep the compost moist by watering regularly.

Watering the compost
Watering the compost
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Kevin Smith says…

A crocus pot is great for a table-top display as the blooms don’t get too tall. Plant one large pot like we have here, or plant several small pots positioning them in a row when they come into flower – it’s a great way to make impact.

Kevin Smith