Tecophilaea cyanocrocus

Also called the Chilean blue crocus, it is not related to a crocus at all. A bulbous plant that will not survive heavy freezes, but does grow well in a rock garden where it flowers in late winter.  Some are hybrids and are a purple colour and others have more or less white in the centre.  Since it grows at 2,000 to 3,000 m on dry, stony slopes in the Andes. It was believed to be extinct in the wild due to overcollecting, overgrazing and habitat destruction, until it was rediscovered in 2001.

Unlike many bulbs which like it dry and hot in summer, tecophilaea prefers it dry but cool during their dormancy. In very wet winters, give adequate drainage or grow under cover.

A collector's bulb. Best sent now while dormant. 1 large and a smaller bulb.