Boerenkrokus (Crocus tommasinianus) bij de Schierstins.

Boerenkrokus (Crocus tommasinianus) bij de Schierstins.

Next to the Dutch Crocus, the Tommasini’s crocus (Crocus tommasinianus), ‘tommies’, also appears in Fryslân. The Tommasini’s crocus, like almost all Stinzenplants, is a plant that grows in the wild. In this case, its natural habitat is in the Balkans. The distribution area in the wild is quite small. The plant grows in forests and on shaded slopes at 1000–1500 meters altitude preferably on limestone (http://www.floravannederland.nl/planten/boerenkrokus). The Dutch name is Boerenkrokus, which means ‘farmers’ crocus’ and points to the fact that in the past this crocus was often found in farmers’ gardens. The flowers are very soft purple in color and only open when there is enough sun. There are also several cultivated varieties of the Tommasini’s crocus such as the Ruby Giant. This plant is somewhat firmer than the ordinary Tommasini’s crocus and brighter in color. Nowadays this cultivar is planted quite a lot. The Tommasini’s crocus occurs at Dekema State, Philippusfenne and the Schierstins.

Gewone Boerenkrokus (Crocus tommasinianus) en Boerenkrokus var. 'Ruby Giant' (Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant'). Foto: Pastorietuin Easterein.

Gewone Boerenkrokus (Crocus tommasinianus) en Boerenkrokus var. ‘Ruby Giant’ (Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’). Foto: Pastorietuin Easterein.