Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

Crocus speciosus

Crocus speciosus, with common name Bieberstein's crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. The plant is native to northern and central Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran, Crimea and Bulgaria.

Last revised
Jun 20, 2026
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Crocus speciosus
Flower showing the divided styles
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Crocus
Species:
C. speciosus
Binomial name
Crocus speciosus

Crocus speciosus, with common name Bieberstein's crocus,1 is a species of flowering plant in the genus Crocus of the family Iridaceae. The plant is native to northern and central Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran, Crimea2 and Bulgaria.3

Crocus speciosus is a cormous perennial growing to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall. The lilac flowers with paler coloured throats and dark veins appear in autumn (fall). The orange styles are much-divided.

The specific epithet speciosus means "showy".4

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. As it increases rapidly, it is suitable for naturalisation in grass.5 The species,6 and the white-flowered cultivar 'Albus',7 have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Subspecies

As listed by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families:2

  • Crocus speciosus subsp. ilgazensis B.Mathew - Turkey
  • Crocus speciosus subsp. speciosus - Turkey, Iran, Caucasus, Crimea
  • Crocus speciosus subsp. xantholaimos B.Mathew - Sinop Province in Turkey
References

References

  1. "Crocus speciosus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. Apostolova-Kuzova, E.; Stoyanov, K.; Raycheva, T.; Naimov, S. (2023). "Crocus speciosus (Iridaceae)-A New Species for the Bulgarian Flora". Plants. 12 (4): 932. doi:10.3390/plants12040932. PMC 9965344. PMID 36840280.
  4. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  5. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  6. "RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. "RHS Plant Selector - Crocus speciosus 'Albus'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.

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