Crocus 'Ruby Giant' (Purple species crocus) — Bulbs, size 5/+
- Regular price
-
€22,95 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
€22,95
Couldn't load pickup availability
Frequently asked questions
Can Crocus 'Ruby Giant' be planted in a lawn? Yes, it naturalizes very well, as long as you wait for its foliage to yellow before the first mowing.
How many Crocus 'Ruby Giant' bulbs should go in a pot? Allow 15 to 20 bulbs in a pot 20 cm in diameter, planted almost touching.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
💜 Purple star-shaped flowers • 🌱 Compact size, 8 to 10 cm • ❄️ Blooms from February • 🐝 Feeds the first bees • ☀️ Sun or light partial shade • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes in lawns • 📏 Bulb size 5/+
The Crocus 'Ruby Giant' is one of the earliest species crocuses: from February, it opens slender purple flowers at ground level, 8 to 10 cm high, which spread into stars in the sun and close in the evening. This cultivar comes from Crocus tommasinianus, a species native to the Balkans and Hungary, where it blooms in meadows and open woodland.
Year after year, it self-seeds and forms new bulbs, eventually creating a purple carpet in the lawn, at the foot of trees, or along borders. Among our flower bulbs, it is one of the very first to bloom, and its size 5/+ bulbs flower from the first spring.
How many bulbs should you choose?
Crocus 'Ruby Giant' makes the biggest impact when planted in large drifts: allow 80 to 100 bulbs per square meter, or 15 to 20 bulbs in a pot 20 cm in diameter.
- 50 bulbs: about 0.5 m² at the foot of a tree, or two to three 25 cm planters on a balcony or terrace.
- 100 bulbs: about 1 m², for a purple edging along a path.
- 200 bulbs: about 2 m², for a first patch of color in a lawn.
- 400 bulbs: about 4 to 5 m², for a true purple carpet that will spread year after year.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 400-bulb pack costs less than half the per-bulb price of the 50-bulb pack.
Planting & location
Plant the bulbs from September to November, as long as the soil is not frozen, for blooms from February to March.
- Exposure: sun or light partial shade; the flowers only open fully in the sun, and the shade of a deciduous tree suits them, as it is still bare in late winter.
- Depth: 5 to 7 cm, pointed end up.
- Spacing: 5 to 8 cm between bulbs in the ground; in a pot, they can almost touch.
- Soil type: ordinary and well-drained, even poor soil; it only dislikes standing water.
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C and below, it even blooms under a thin layer of snow.
In lawns, lift a clump of turf with a spade, slip a few bulbs underneath, then replace the turf: the lawn remains intact.
Watering & care
In the ground, rain is enough. In pots, the potting mix should never stay waterlogged; excess water causes the small bulbs to rot, as explained in our article on overwatered plants with damaged roots.
- Watering: minimal — at planting, then in pots when the potting mix is dry on the surface during flowering.
- Fertilizer: unnecessary in the ground; in pots, use a bulb fertilizer as the leaves emerge.
- Spent flowers: cut them off if you want to prevent self-seeding, or leave them so the carpet spreads.
- After flowering: leave the fine leaves in place to turn yellow for five to six weeks; they replenish the bulb for the following year.
In lawns, wait until the crocus foliage has turned yellow before the first mow: they'll bloom more profusely the following year.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its purple flowers brighten planters and windowsills from late winter, as shown in our guide to plants for windowsills.
- For a purple and white duo in February, plant it with the giant snowdrop — its white bells bloom at the same time, just above the crocuses.
- For a purple and yellow contrast, pair it with 'Tête-à-Tête' daffodils — their small yellow trumpets open in late February and take over in March.
- To extend the carpet into April, mix it with Muscari 'White Magic' — its white clusters appear as the crocuses fade, at the same low height.
- For a balcony version, plant 15 to 20 bulbs in the white Elho Greenville Easy Balcony planter in the 25 cm size — it hooks onto the railing and its white makes the purple flowers stand out.
In a pot, plant in layers: daffodils or tulips at the bottom, crocuses above at a depth of 7 cm. The pot blooms from February, then blooms a second time in spring.
Verdeia tips
- Plant as soon as they arrive: small crocus bulbs dry out quickly in the open air. Plant them in the ground within a few days, as you would any new plant arriving at home.
- Let them naturalize: don't dig up the bulbs, they overwinter in the ground like the species in our selection of cold-hardy plants and form new offsets every year.
- Watch the bees: on a sunny day in February, open crocuses are often the only source of pollen available. A carpet of crocuses helps colonies get the season off to a good start.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant'
- Common name: Species crocus, Tommasini's crocus
- Family: Iridaceae
- Origin: cultivar derived from Crocus tommasinianus, a species native to the Balkans and Hungary
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 5/+ (5 cm in circumference and above), in packs of 50, 100, 200 or 400
- Flowering height: 8 to 10 cm
- Flowering: February to March, purple star-shaped flowers
- Planting: September to November, 5-7 cm deep
- Exposure: sun or light partial shade
- Watering: low
- Hardiness: down to -25 °C and below
- Soil type: ordinary, well-drained
- Life cycle: perennial, naturalizes and blooms again every year
- Pollinator-friendly: one of the first sources of pollen for bees
- Care: very easy
- Toxicity: toxic to animals and children if ingested (digestive problems); not to be confused with autumn crocus, which is much more toxic
- Decorative style: Natural garden / Cottage garden / Flowering balcony
Each bulb is unique: the shade of purple and flowering time naturally vary depending on the soil, position, and climate.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.