BULB WATCH

4: CROCUS

AT THE turn of the century, E A Bowles, the plantsman, grew more than 100 varieties of crocus in his parents' kitchen garden in Middlesex. Writing of his passion for these bulbs, he described himself as a man "the very inmost cockle of whose heart glows more for a crocus than for the most expensive orchid", and added, after paragraphs of rhapsodising, that he feared readers might have been wearied by the raptures "of a love- sick monomaniac". His writing may seem over-ripe today, but it is to Bowles's extraordinary powers of observation that we owe many of the best forms of crocus now in cultivation.

On sunny mornings in February, he would inspect the lines of seedlings for a deeper blue, or a better break in colour, and when he spotted a "tip-topper" he would gently separate it from its neighbours. The seedling would be labelled and put with other precious bulbs in a frame, where for a couple of years he continued to watch and reselect the flowers until he was satisfied.

The best of the Crocus chrysanthus seedlings Bowles chose he named after birds. "Bullfinch" and "Yellow Hammer" have disappeared from the catalogues, but "Snow Bunting" is still around, a beautiful white flower feathered with grey markings. The lemon-yellow "E A Bowles" was named after the great enthusiast. These chrysanthus forms are earlier and smaller than the globular Dutch varieties, and are worth growing if you like a graceful rather than a showy flower. Bowles does not mention having raised "Blue Bird", but I like to think that this is one of his own seedlings. Even if the provenance is in doubt, this is a pretty violet and white crocus. As yellow flowers are more likely to be damaged by birds in winter than blue ones, it is a good choice. Bluer than "Blue Bird" is "Blue Pearl", which has touches of yellow, but "Blue Peter" is all bright blue.

The species or unimproved crocus were also grown and loved by Bowles. For those who garden on sandy soil, as he did, all crocuses will thrive. The tommasinianus forms are lovely for naturalising in grass, and these are the earliest of all to flower, at the same time as the snowdrops and aconites. I still like the unimproved tommasinianus best, for its washy blue flowers. There is a good pink form, "Roseus", and a larger purple - "Whitewell Purple" - which is the one that seems to be more generally available. "Ruby Giant" is another large, selected form that has more pink than blue in its purple. The tommasinianus tribe can cope with a little shade from deciduous trees or shrubs, and they can wait for the sun to come out before they open up.

Crocus sieberi, in its white form, is another Bowles find. Called "Bowles White", this one is faintly scented. "Firefly" is the white and purple version, and "Violet Queen" is a good dark colour. The sieberi species is at home in rocky places in Greece, so it appreciates good drainage and sun.

As well as the plant called the Autumn Crocus, actually the colchicum, real crocus also flower in autumn. Crocus speciosus is a lovely blue genuine crocus for autumn and easy to grow. The secret, according to Bowles, is to get them planted early so they are ready to flower in October. Free, gritty soil, even sand, he suggests will do them well.

The true European spring Crocus vernus is rarely offered in its unimproved form, but the large Dutch hybrids are always available. Bowles described them as "fat, prosperous, gone-into-trade-and-done-well-with-it", but "Queen of the Blues" is rather wonderful at a time of year when colour is a tonic.

SUPPLIERS: Jacques Amand, The Nurseries, Clamp Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 3JS (0108-954 8138); Avon Bulbs, Burnt House Farm, Mid Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HE (01460 42177); Peter Nyssen, Railway Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 0WX (0161 7486666).

Mary Keen