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When to plant crocuses in Rotorua: by 26 April

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

Crocus in Rotorua: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in August, average 3.8 °C.

Plantingby 26 April
First autumn frost26 May
Coldest nightsAugust, 3.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of July
Daylight10:43 on 26 April
Daylight at the winter solstice9:30

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

Crocus in Rotorua: 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 Rotorua the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 17 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. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

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 Rotorua, Dunedin is 4 days earlier and Palmerston North 26 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Palmerston North253 kmby 22 May26 days later
Blenheim423 kmby 1 May5 days later
Nelson431 kmby 22 May26 days later
Christchurch672 kmby 6 May10 days later
Timaru811 kmby 5 May9 days later
Dunedin981 km22 April – end of June4 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Rotorua

Planting stock goes into the ground by 26 April; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Rotorua OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery and 4 markets (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Rotorua?

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

When is the last spring frost in Rotorua?

Last spring frost around 10 September, first autumn frost around 26 May.

Other crops in Rotorua, with their dates