I assume you associate crocus with spring, dear gardeners, but in the Holy Land and warm climate gardens like mine here in Texas, crocus bulbs can be planted to burst into bloom in the fall. These petite, low-growing, cupped-petal flowers are synonymous with reprieve, would you agree? Whether hopeful for snows to melt and gardens to swing into floral pageantry, or for temperatures to finally shift from scorching to pleasant, crocus heralds a bountiful, long-anticipated restoration with heaping measures of joy. Quite a sounding from a not quite four-inch-tall flower!
They are a perfect package of God’s affirmation that yes, we have waited…and waited…maybe too close to the edge of drained hope…but now we will burst with happy gladness, as if carpeted profusely with posies. Crocus stand as reminders that all you have longed for will be here in a blissful surge when God shifts the season.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. Isaiah 35:1-2 NIV
This Scripture is the gospel in a glimpse; a prophecy and iteration of God’s glorious move to deliver us from death—pictured in the lifeless, parched soil—to resurrection life with Jesus, flourishing through eternity with Him. If there is a language of flowers, which God’s Word often suggests (see Matthew 6:28, Luke 12:27), then surely crocus speak a hallelujah praise that through salvation in Jesus, Our God turns darkness to bright, and dusty, deserted haunts to bountiful, blooming delight. Say it again, hallelujah!
Planting Fall Crocus
If everything in you says, “I’m ready for my desert to turn into delight!” then come cultivate with me. See several bulbs available for planting fall crocus—flowers and spice to make fall a paradise. If you are already days away from frost and freeze, then keep these in mind to plant next summer, and join us in God’s blooming Words below with a cup of saffron tea.
The name “autumn crocus” is not truly species-specific; in fact, colchicum and sternbergia, other flowers-from-bulbs types, can be called autumn crocus, giving gardeners plenty to choose from for fall planting in this conundrum of beauty. No worries, I am still trying to sort them out, too! Pictured here are “white fall flowering crocus” from American Meadows blooming for me four years ago, and I have just planted Crocus speciosus ‘Alba’ from Brent and Becky’s Bulbs to celebrate this fall. Purple and yellow hues are available, too.
See Autumn Crocus in the Plant Guide for more growing details.
Winter crocus is a more exclusive name referring to Crocus hyemalis. Though there are several crocuses from the Levant region that do bloom in winter, C. hyemalis is a favorite in Israel and available there commercially. However, they are hard to come by in the U.S. I ordered these from an Israeli grower several years ago to be able to bring you photos. They bloom in concert with celebrating Chanukah, like little candles coming up in the landscape to proclaim the light.
See Winter Crocus in the Plant Guide to learn more about this precious flower.
Saffron crocus stands out among the crocus confusion, easy to order from various vendors like Renee’s Gardens (Affiliate link), and yielding the luxurious saffron spice in its vivid red-orange stamens. Three filaments to each flower—hand-picked, to make this a personally gathered flavor sensation from pretty, pale purple flowers.
See Saffron Crocus in the Plant Guide for more inspiration to grow this spice.
Growing these diminutive bulbs is straightforward among all types: Dig slim holes in well-draining soil about 3 inches deep and add a small scoop of bone meal fertilizer to encourage good rooting. Tuck the bulb in the hole, growing tip up, and cover over with soil. Water in, then add a light layer of mulch to hold in moisture. Keep soil damp, not saturated, in between rainfalls, and keep watch in 6 weeks or so for blanched, cone-like tips to appear, then bloom in a burst!
Words to Plant
Let’s take crocus exuberance to a deeper level, tucking Christ’s joy in our hearts as the bulbs go in the soil. So much to hope for as we linger in God’s Words, truly embracing His metaphor in the land that shows us His desire to turn any parched place—in our hearts, livelihoods, or neighborhoods—into vibrant, flourishing life.
When Yahweh restores his people, Jacob’s joy will break forth and Israel will be glad! Psalm 14:7 TPT
The Lord himself is the one who has done this, and it’s so amazing, so marvelous to see! This is the very day of the Lord that brings gladness and joy, filling our hearts with glee. Psalm 118:24 TPT
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16 NIRV
But I will still be glad because of what the Lord has done. God my Savior fills me with joy. Habakkuk 3:18 NIRV
So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise your voices, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel’s king, in charge at the center. There’s nothing to fear from evil ever again! Jerusalem will be told: “Don’t be afraid. Dear Zion, don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Zephaniah 3:14-17 The Message
In view of the joy set before [Jesus], he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 EHV
Our faith [in Jesus] guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joys bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory! Romans 5:2 TPT
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51:3 NIV
Sing songs of praise to the name that belongs to the True God! Let your voices ring out in songs of praise to Him, the One who rides through the deserted places. His name is the Eternal; celebrate in His glorious presence. Psalm 68:4 VOICE
Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 TPT
Closing Prayer
O Father, how many ways my garden plants bring me back to You! Thank You for the blessing of planting fall crocus and remembering Your forever work, turning my dried-up heart into a vibrant place of Your life. Jesus is life! It is so good to turn to You; let these little blooming reminders keep my eyes and heart turning to You and focused on Your joy. Increase my faith, O God, to be certain that whatever I am waiting for and have committed to You, You will see to it that it “blooms”—it’s what You do. Thank You for talking to me through flowers, how very gracious of You! You are my delight, O Lord! Thank You for rejoicing over me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
On that day they will say, “See! This is our God! We waited for him to save us. This is Adonai; we put our hope in him. We are full of joy, so glad he saved us!” Isaiah 25:9 CJB
Read more devotions on fall-planted crocus in chapter 6 of My Father is the Gardener and find journal questions in Planting & Crown Anemones and Crocus from the Devotions Blog
Autumn crocus are featured in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible in a devotional essay near Isaiah 35.
Find all the fall-planted crocus in the Plant Guide: Autumn Crocus, Winter Crocus, and Saffron Crocus
Photo Credits: ©Shelley S. Cramm
CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
EHV notes Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® , EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
NIRV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®, Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
The Message denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com
VOICE denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
