Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Crocus vernus 'Pickwick'
Pickwick Dutch Crocus
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Height
- 4 to 6 in
- Width
- 2 to 4 in (per clump of foliage and flowers)
- Flower color
- Rich deep violet-purple petals with a contrasting darker base and lighter throat
- Foliage color
- Medium green, narrow grass-like leaves with a central silvery stripe
- Bloom time
- Early to mid spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flowers to tidy appearance, allow foliage to die back naturally
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 8
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early-season pollinators
About this plant
Crocus vernus 'Pickwick' features broad, goblet-shaped flowers patterned with bold lavender and deep violet striping over a silvery white base. The petals open wide in sunlight, revealing bright orange stamens at the center. Slender, grasslike foliage appears with the blooms, marked by a pale midrib that adds subtle contrast.
Blooming in late winter to early spring, this cultivar is part of the Dutch hybrid crocus group developed in Europe. It performs beautifully in lawns, borders, rock gardens, and containers, where clusters of flowers create early-season color and naturalize gently in open areas with reliable annual return.
Works well in
Pollinator Gardens · Pathways & Walkways · Borders · Rock Gardens
Companion plants
Ferns · Primroses · Hostas · Siberian buglosses · Hellebores · Japanese anemones
Design tip
Plant this striped crocus where its intricate flowers can be appreciated at close range beside paths or garden entrances. The detailed petal markings reward careful observation, adding unexpected visual interest long before most spring perennials begin to emerge.
