Crocus pulchellus

“Well named,” says Elizabeth Lawrence, “for the flowers are so adorable that it is hard to describe them without sounding foolish.” Well, here goes. Rounded, fragrant, lilac-blue, orange-throated, violet-veined, 1.5-inch goblets, on white “stems” in October. Robust, self-sowing freely and thriving in sun or semi-shade. Spring leaves. Mediterranean/ Modified continental; Balkans to Turkey. Zone 5/6.

Photo: Averater, licensed under CC BY 4.0