Blossoming Success: The Blue Ribbon Shines Bright
7 Million Crocuses Illuminate Düsseldorf's Parks
In a bid to transform the city's parks into a vibrant springtime spectacle, over 7,000,000 crocuses now adorn Düsseldorf's Hofgarten and Rheinpark. This large-scale beautification project, initiated by the "Pro Düsseldorf" association, has been ongoing since 2008 in the Rheinpark and 2016 in the Hofgarten.
The plantings, known as "Krokus-Wellen" (crocus waves) in the Rheinpark and simply the crocus plantings in the Hofgarten, were made possible by the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie's generous funding.
The varieties used were primarily traditional garden crocuses known for their early bloom and bright colors. These included the spring crocus (Crocus vernus), the Greek dwarf crocus (Crocus sieberi Firefly), the fairy crocus (Crocus tommasinanus), and the botanical crocus "Blue Pearl" (Crocus chrysanthus Blue Pearl), which blooms lavender.
Each year, these carpets of flowers create a breathtaking sight, inviting admiration, photography, and enjoyment. The locations within the parks where these crocuses bloom include the Schützenwiese, Oederallee, Napoleonsberg, and Hofgartenrampe in the Hofgarten, and the northern Rheinpark, where an additional 1,000,000 bulbs were set in October 2019.
The "Blue Band" crocus range varies from vibrant dark to delicate light purple, adding to the diverse display of colors. These mass plantings aim to create a striking visual impact and celebrate the arrival of spring, making Düsseldorf's parks a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike.
