Crocus

Although the crocus is an extremely familiar and readily recognisable plant there are no native species in this country. Some flower in autumn but most flower in early spring when they provide a very valuable nectar resource to bumblebees and butterflies that have just emerged from their winter torpor, along with a whole range of other pollinators. Squirrels and small mammals such as mice will uncover and eat the corms and some birds, especially sparrows, peck at emerging flowers to access the protein-rich pollen.