Bulbous perennial of the Iridaceae family, 'Jeanne d'Arc' is a horticultural cultivar from the group of large spring crocuses, obtained from Crocus vernus subsp. vernus and its hybrids. These selections, mainly developed in the Netherlands from the 19th century, constitute what is commonly referred to as Dutch crocuses.
'Jeanne d'Arc' is one of the most classic and perennial white cultivars of this group. Its flowers are pure white, large and generous, with wide and rounded tepals that open widely in the sun into a broad and bright corolla. The throat has a slight violet tint at the base of the tepals, barely perceptible, which enhances the purity of the overall white. The anthers are a bright orange-yellow, very contrasting. The foliage is typical of the group: narrow, upright, dark green leaves, streaked with a silver median line.
In its natural habitat, the parent species blooms from March to May depending on altitude. In cultivation, 'Jeanne d'Arc' blooms in March-April, among the latest spring crocuses of the season.
Robust and reliable, it is grown in well-drained soil, in full sun, and naturalizes easily in lawns and rock gardens. Planted in large swathes, it produces an effect of great purity, particularly striking in association with purple or violet cultivars of the same group.