When to plant crocus
hardy corm
The short answer
Crocus are planted in the fall, once the soil has cooled and well before the ground freezes. The exact window depends on your region - the rules below come from state extension services.
See the rules for your region, or the full bulb planting guide.
When to plant crocus where you live
No single date works everywhere. These are the fall planting rules published by state extension services, quoted for the state each one covers.
| Minnesota | Usually mid-September to mid-October, so roots grow before the ground freezes. (University of Minnesota) |
| Colorado | Late September is preferred and September and October are the best months. Bulbs planted after October may not root well enough to flower evenly in spring. (Colorado State) |
| Iowa | October is ideal. Procrastinators can plant as late as December if the ground is not frozen. (Iowa State) |
| Wisconsin | Plant when the ground cools to about 50-55°F or lower (but is not frozen), and keep planting until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes. (University of Wisconsin) |
| South Carolina | Plant spring bulbs only once the soil at planting depth stays below 60°F. On the coast, most bulbs go in late December or early January. (Clemson Home & Garden Information Center) |
| North Carolina | Plant in fall to build roots and meet the cold requirement, which ranges from six to 20 weeks depending on species or cultivar. Wait until the soil at planting depth is below 60°F. (NC State) |
| Missouri | Spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in October so they go through a cooling process over the winter. (University of Missouri) |
| Georgia | Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted from October through late December in most areas. (University of Georgia) |
| Michigan | Many Michigan nurseries recommend a cutoff of late October for getting bulbs into the ground, because planting recommendations depend mainly on soil temperature. For bulbs that miss it, MSU Extension suggests a sheltered spot, a thicker mulch, or refrigerator chilling (for most bulbs, 14-16 weeks below 45°F). (Michigan State) |
Planting depth and spacing
| Bulb | Depth (inches) | Spacing (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| Crocus | 3-4 | 3 |
From Iowa State Extension; depth is measured from the base of the bulb to the soil surface. Plant with the pointed end up.
What extension services say
- Plant spring crocus in the fall with other hardy bulbs; Clemson says November in South Carolina, in full sun or light shade. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- Autumn-flowering crocus is a different plant and is planted in midsummer. Colorado State University Extension ↗
- Crocus is one of the earliest spring bulbs, with many starting to bloom in late winter. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- Rabbits, chipmunks, voles and other animals often dig up or eat tulips and crocus; laying hardware cloth or chicken wire over the bed after planting stops the digging. Iowa State University Extension ↗
Questions gardeners ask
When do you plant crocus bulbs?
Spring-flowering crocus goes in during fall: November in South Carolina (Clemson). See the regional rules below for colder states.
How deep do you plant crocus?
3 to 4 inches deep and about 3 inches apart (Iowa State).
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension: Selecting and Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs
- Clemson Home & Garden Information Center: Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC 1155)
- Colorado State University Extension: Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms
- University of Minnesota Extension: Planting bulbs, tubers and rhizomes
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Color
- NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook: Herbaceous Ornamentals
- University of Missouri Extension: Countdown to beautiful spring flowers begins now
- University of Georgia Extension: Flowering Bulbs for Georgia Gardens
- Michigan State University Extension: Is it too late to plant bulbs?
Extension advice is local to the state that wrote it. Where the sources differ, both are shown. Dates in the tables are estimates from typical frost dates; your garden’s own last frost can differ by a week or more. How we source data.