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When to plant crocuses in Melbourne: by 26 May

In Melbourne, crocus: plant by 26 May. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

Crocus in Melbourne: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in July, average 6.3 °C.

Plantingby 26 May
First autumn frost25 June
Coldest nightsJuly, 6.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of July
Daylight9:50 on 26 May
Daylight at the winter solstice9:32

The same dates in Melbourne hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.

Crocus in Melbourne: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant Dutch crocuses (Crocus vernus) about 12 cm deep and 9 cm apart; smaller species go 7–10 cm deep (RHS).

In Melbourne the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 7 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. That is less than the bulbs need, and without more cold they may not flower properly. The cold can also be given in a refrigerator at about 2–7 °C, as Wisconsin Horticulture Extension does for crocuses forced in pots.

Crocuses multiply on their own (they naturalise); in a lawn, hold off mowing until their leaves die back (RHS).

Birds, squirrels and rodents damage crocuses; planting under metal mesh may reduce losses (RHS). Spring crocus gives dogs and cats vomiting and diarrhoea; do not confuse it with autumn crocus (Colchicum), which is very toxic (Pet Poison Helpline).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, Pet Poison Helpline.

Crocus in nearby cities

Around Melbourne, Canberra is 26 days earlier and Devonport 1 day later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Ballarat101 kmby 20 May6 days earlier
Bendigo131 kmby 20 May6 days earlier
Albury260 kmby 21 May5 days earlier
Devonport393 kmby 27 May1 day later
Launceston444 kmby 9 May17 days earlier
Canberra467 kmby 30 April26 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Melbourne

Planting stock goes into the ground by 26 May; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Melbourne OpenStreetMap lists 24 garden centres, 5 plant nurseries, 22 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Melbourne?

In Melbourne, crocus: plant by 26 May. The winter here is too mild for our late-planting rule, so we give no later limit.

When is the last spring frost in Melbourne?

Last spring frost around 4 August, first autumn frost around 25 June.

Other crops in Melbourne, with their dates