About Crocus tommasinianus Herb.
Crocus tommasinianus Herb. is a cormous perennial species in the genus Crocus, family Iridaceae. It is one of the smaller cultivated crocus species, with an overall height of 3 inches (76 mm). It produces slender lilac-colored flowers that measure about 2–4 cm (1–2 inches) long. Flowers have white perianth tubes and six petals, which range in color from pale silvery lilac to reddish purple; outer petals may be overlaid with silver and have darker tips. There is a white-flowered variant, C. tommasinianus f. albus. This species' cultivars are grown as ornamental plants. In its natural habitat, C. tommasinianus grows at around 1000 meters elevation, in woods and on shady hillsides, most commonly on limestone. It flowers in January and February, and its narrow leaves are fully developed by the time its purple flowers with white tubes bloom. C. tommasinianus naturalizes easily, and has earned official recognition as a weed. It is already naturalized in the US state of Delaware. It is often planted in large drifts in gardens and parks, and has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
