thistle and crocus

[leifus]

1 carline thistle? it looks odd to me...i.e. it could just be a dead spear thistle or something





2 me thinks early crocus but the stem has those purple tinges which i dont know makes this spring crocus (not all of them had this)...

[KeenTeen17]

1) carline thistle without a doubt, these are the seedheads that have survived through the winter. I would expect to find it in a coastal location like yours.

2) not good at croci yet

[Tiggrx]

the Crocus stems look white to me which would mean that it is Early Crocus. Are you looking the netted pattern on the sheath - if so that doesn't count

The purple on the stem of Spring Crocus is like shown in this picture

[leifus]

i was, in hope, looking at the netted pattern on the sheath

but thanks that makes it very clear great photo!

Do spring and early crocuses grow together or will they never grow together?

Basically if I find a patch of early crocus do I have to look at every single one to see if its a spring crocus

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by leifus

Do spring and early crocuses grow together or will they never grow together?

Basically if I find a patch of early crocus do I have to look at every single one to see if its a spring crocus

Spring and Early Crocus are often found together in parks, churchyards, pathsides etc. They also frequently hybridise and the hybrid is also grown as garden plant (C. 'Whitewell Purple' is a very common one.

You could also confuse them with Sieber's Crocus which has a yellow throat to the flower, but is a much rarer escape.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Spring and Early Crocus are often found together in parks, churchyards, pathsides etc. They also frequently hybridise and the hybrid is also grown as garden plant (C. 'Whitewell Purple' is a very common one.

You could also confuse them with Sieber's Crocus which has a yellow throat to the flower, but is a much rarer escape.

thanks so much for the info I actually found a lone spring crocus today!!