The crocus is a small, delicate flowering plant that belongs to the iris family (*Iridaceae*) and grows from a corm — a compact, bulb-like underground stem that stores energy. It typically stands just 3 to 6 inches tall and produces cup-shaped blooms in a wide range of colors, including purple, lavender, white, yellow, orange, and striped varieties. The flowers have six petals (technically tepals) and a bright orange or yellow stigma at the center, which in the case of *Crocus sativus* is harvested to produce saffron, one of the world's most prized and expensive spices. The leaves are narrow and grass-like, usually dark green with a distinctive silvery-white stripe running down the center. Crocuses are among the earliest flowers to bloom, often pushing up through snow in late winter or early spring, making them a beloved symbol of hope and the coming of warmer seasons. They thrive in well-drained soil and sunny to partially shaded spots, and they naturalize well, meaning they spread and multiply over time, returning year after year with little maintenance.