Crocus puringii (Crocus speciosus ‘Aino’)

The violet-blue, purple-veined flowers of this recent introduction are remarkably large and showy, even for this showiest of crocus species. Which – incidentally – it apparently doesn’t belong to, having been moved to its own species by verdict of Janis Ruksans. The flowers are also remarkably weather-resistant, standing up to just about whatever mid-autumn throws at them. Mediterranean/Modified continental; Zone 5.