Crocus tommasinianus is commonly called snow crocus because it is one of the earliest of the crocuses to bloom, typically in late winter to early spring.
Crocus tommasinianus produces large, pale lavender to deep reddish-purple flowers, with a white throat and contrasting orange stamens. The long-tubed, goblet-shaped flowers provide much needed nectar and pollen to hungry insects after a long winter. Flowers close at night and open in the morning, but usually remain closed on rainy and cloudy days.
Each plant has 3 to 5 basal, narrow, linear leaves with a white stripe down the center. The grass-like foliage will die back by late spring.