On a crisp spring morning, the royal gardens of Highgrove positively shimmer with color. Between the clipped yews and wildflower meadows, drifts of violet blooms seem to glow against the grass: the striking Crocus ‘Remembrance’, which just so happens to be one of King Charles III’s favorite plantings.
Now, I’ve always loved the not-so-humble crocus; usually the first spring-flowering bulb to show its face in the new year, they’ve an uncanny ability to put a smile on my face even when the world is at its grayest. So, when I found out that King Charles III favors one crocus variety in particular, you’d best believe I was keen to find out more.
Thankfully, the Highgrove Gardens website was all too happy to oblige, revealing that the Crocus ‘Remembrance’ features prominently in both the Wild Flower Meadow and the Buttress Garden, where it provides “a bold statement of color on early spring days.”
A Royal Favorite That Works Stateside
It’s easy to see why the King, a lifelong champion of sustainable horticulture, chose this particular flower to herald the start of the season. Not only does this colorful bloom serve as a vital plant for pollinators in those early months, but it is also – once established – the sort of flower that returns year after year, expanding gently without becoming invasive.
Importantly, you don’t have to be based in a palace to reap its many benefits, or even the United Kingdom; in fact, King Charles III’s favorite crocus is perfectly suited to North American climates, thriving in USDA hardiness zones 3-8.
Which means, yes, gardeners from Minnesota to Georgia can enjoy its jewel-toned flowers with very little fuss.
Better still, you can pick up a bag of Crocus ‘Remembrance’ bulbs in bulk from Amazon. Majestic stuff, right?
Bringing a Touch of Highgrove Home
If you’d like to borrow a bit of royal magic for your own garden, Crocus ‘Remembrance’ can be planted in clusters beneath deciduous trees, at the edge of borders, or even in containers as a part of a bulb trifle display. For the full Highgrove effect, scatter 100 or more bulbs across a small lawn or meadow and let them naturalize freely.
Whatever you decide, just take care to plant it 5 inches deep and about 3 inches apart in well-draining soil (these flowers hate getting their feet wet). A bulb planting tool, like the Edward Tools Bulb Planter on Amazon should help you do this easily.
As a general rule of thumb, crocuses should be planted in November, although remember that planting times will vary slightly depending when you receive your first freeze (King Charles III’s favorite crocus bulbs should be in the ground when soil temperatures are below 60 degrees F, but before the first frost).
As the crocuses at Highgrove push through the frost each spring, they mark not only the changing season but the enduring joy of small, hopeful flowers. And that symbolism becomes all the more poignant once you learn these Dutch natives were named to honor those lost in war, and that their deep purple hue is often associated with dignity and reflection.
I suppose what I'm trying to say – albeit a tad romantically – is this: for gardeners like myself, planting something like King Charles III’s beloved Crocus ‘Remembrance’ is a simple way to bring that royal sense of renewal to our own backyards.
After all, it's proof that even the grandest gardens begin with something as humble as a handful of bulbs.
