Crocuses: A Complete Guide to the Genus

by Janis Ruksans, Brian Mathew (Foreword by)

Overview

Winsome, charming, and brilliant are just three of the adjectives that crocuses typically elicit from grateful, color-starved gardeners. Indeed, few flowers can rival crocuses for the cheer they bring to the barren, late-winter garden and for the affection in which they are held by millions of gardeners. But though they’re viewed as an icon of early spring, crocuses aren’t just one-season wonders: there are also dozens of striking autumn-blooming species that appear just when they’re most needed, as summer’s flowers wind down. And because many species originate in the Mediterranean basin, they’re ideal for gardens in which summer irrigation has been reduced or eliminated.

In this comprehensive, up-to-date volume, bulb expert Janis Rukšans surveys all the known species in this remarkable genus, including those that have been discovered since the appearance of Brian Mathew’s 1982 monograph. A seasoned plant explorer, Rukšans has observed many species in the wild, and so is able to offer valuable insights into how they may best be grown. He also discusses their use in the garden, their botanical characteristics, and classification—all in nonspecialist language so that even readers without a botanical background can profit by his knowledge and broad experience.

Illustrated with 300 stunning photographs, this book will be indispensable for all those with a serious interest in crocuses, from collectors and bulb enthusiasts to nursery professionals and garden designers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604691061
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/12/2011
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Janis Ruksans has been growing bulbs since age twelve and since 1991 has operated his own bulb nursery in his native Latvia, specializing in rare and unusual bulbs. He has taken part in several expeditions searching for new bulbs throughout Europe and Central Asia. He worked at the Latvian National Botanical Garden and was the editor-in-chief of a horticultural magazine for nearly twenty years. He is the author of five books about growing bulbs. Janis Ruksans lives in Latvia.

Editorial Reviews

Rukšans (Buried Treasures: Finding and Growing the World's Choicest Bulbs), a botanical explorer, is an internationally recognized expert on hardy bulbs. In his latest work he surveys all known species of the Crocus genus by discussing their identification, propagation, and cultivation. The inclusion of newly discovered plant species establishes this as the most comprehensive and up-to-date work on crocuses. Over 300 color plates beautify the text. Rukšans's conversational style of narrative and his personal experiences as a nurseryman enliven the material. VERDICT This book would be useful to dedicated collectors, growers, and landscape professionals. Garden hobbyists will gather useful information here as well. It belongs in general collections strong in horticulture and gardening topics and will be indispensable in specialized libraries that focus on gardening and botanical interests. The volume's quality of distinction justifies its price. Recommended.—Deborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Dunwoody

Library Journal

Opened my eyes to the richness of the genus. [Rukšāns] wrote Crocuses in language that can be understood by the everyday gardener.” —Horticulture

“This is the kind of gardening book that makes my garden-geeky heart beat faster.” —Cold Climate Gardening

“This is a botanically-minded gardener’s view of crocuses. . . . Jānis has the advantage over all his predecessors of having seen the vast majority of the plants he describes in the wild. This gives him a unique perspective into variation within the genus, and within species.” —John Grimshaw’s Garden Diary

 

From the Publisher