CROCUS 'ORANGE MONARCH'

Crocus 'Orange Monarch' - http://highergroundgardens.com/

The Crocus 'Orange Monarch' is lauded as the world's only truly orange crocus. But how orange is it? Well that remains to be seen as there are few images available and I have yet to see them in anyone's garden. This is because it a brand new cultivar which only became available on the market in the autumn of 2012.

Crocus 'Orange Monarch' - http://www.notcutts.co.uk/

Be that as it may, I have put my money where my mouth is, purchased some and planted them in the garden.

Unfortunately, like everyone else I will have to wait until the early spring before I find out for sure.

That aside, the richness of colour shown for crocus 'Orange Monarch' is utterly gorgeous and definitely worth a risk when a packet of ten corms retails at only a few pounds.

But there is a problem. Other than the main photograph shown above, all other images look distinctly yellowish!

This will be due to two things. Either the main photograph has been colour adjusted (the most likely explanation) to make it look more orange than it really is, or the strength of orange pigment is affected by the acidity and/or nutrient mix of the soil.

UPDATE

One year on and my first season of Crocus 'Orange Monarch' were not particularly successful. the colours were correct but there were few flowers and the plants themselves were a little weedy. Be that as it may the foliage grew stronger as the year progressed and so I am hoping for a better display this coming season. We shall see.

Two years on and the foliage has grown back far stronger however the flowers are few and short lived. Still disappointing!

For related articles click onto the following links:
CROCUS 'ORANGE MONARCH'
CROCUS 'PICKWICK'
HOW TO GROW CROCUS
HOW TO GROW CROCUS FROM SEED
HOW TO GROW SAFFRON
HOW TO GROW THE SAFFRON CROCUS - Crocus sativus
HOW TO PROPAGATE THE SAFFRON CROCUS

WHERE DO CROCUSES LIKE TO GROW?