





🤍 Large white cups • 🌱 Compact size, 10 to 12 cm • ❄️ Blooms from February • 🐝 Feeds the first bees • ☀️ Sun or light partial shade • 🧊 Very hardy • 🔁 Naturalizes in lawns • 📏 Bulb size 7/8
The large-flowered white crocus heralds the end of winter: from February, sometimes even before the frosts are over, it opens large pure white cups 10 to 12 cm high at ground level, which bloom in the sun and close in the evening. The species, Crocus vernus, is native to the mountains of Europe (the Alps, Pyrenees, and Balkans), where it blooms as the snow melts.
Planted in drifts in a lawn, border, or pot, it comes back each year, spreading little by little, and its bright white lights up the still-dark corners of the garden. Among our flower bulbs, it is one of the first to open the season, a few weeks before daffodils and tulips.
How many bulbs should you choose?
White crocuses make the biggest impact when planted in large drifts: allow 70 to 100 bulbs per square meter, or 15 to 20 bulbs in a pot 20 cm in diameter.
- 30 bulbs: about 0.5 m², or two pots and planters on a balcony.
- 60 bulbs: about 1 m², for a white edging or the foot of a tree.
- 120 bulbs: about 1.5 to 2 m², for a first white patch in a lawn.
- 240 bulbs: about 3 to 4 m², for a true white carpet that will spread year after year.
The larger the pack, the lower the price per bulb: the 240-bulb pack costs less than half the per-bulb price of the 30-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: 7 to 8 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: no need to cut them off; they disappear on their own into the foliage.
- 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 white brightens planters and windowsills from late winter, as shown in our guide to plants for windowsills.
- For a white and yellow duo, pair it with 'Tête-à-Tête' daffodils — their small yellow trumpets open in late February, alongside the last white cups.
- For a white and blue carpet, mix it with the large-flowered blue crocus — its large blue cups bloom at the same time and at the same height.
- For a white and purple contrast, plant it with Crocus 'Ruby Giant' — its purple star-shaped flowers open at the same time, a little lower down.
- For a balcony version, plant 15 to 20 bulbs in the green Elho Greenville Easy Balcony planter in the 25 cm size — it hooks onto the railing and its green makes the white 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 vernus, large white flowers
- Common name: White crocus, spring crocus
- Family: Iridaceae
- Origin: species native to the mountains of Europe (the Alps, Pyrenees, and Balkans)
- Delivery: dry bulbs, size 7/8 (7 to 8 cm in circumference), in packs of 30, 60, 120 or 240
- Flowering height: 10 to 12 cm
- Flowering: February to March, large white cups
- Planting: September to November, 7-8 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 size of the cups 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.

