Autumn-Blooming Colchicum
My gardens continue to bloom with the pretty fall perennial, Colchicum.
I love Colchicum and have enjoyed the flowers for many years. Colchicum produces such cheerful colors when most other plants have faded. Over the seasons, we’ve planted a number of colchicum bulb-like corms around my farm - near my front gate, along the edge of my Stewartia garden, and under my tall, handsome bald cypress trees. I am so happy these plants are flourishing and have multiplied in numbers. The blossoms are gorgeous with large, elongated petals of fuchsia and soft lilac - they add a perfect touch of springlike beauty.
Enjoy these photos.
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- The common name for Colchicum is autumn crocus, but they are not true autumn crocus because there are many species of true crocus which are autumn blooming. Also, Colchicum flowers have six stamens while crocuses have only three.
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- Colchicum is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast to South Africa and the Western Cape.
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- The scientific name comes from Colchis, a region on the coast of the Black Sea. The name Colchicum alludes to the poisonous qualities of the species. The plant contains an alkaloid known as colchicine, which is found in all parts, but mostly in the seeds.
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- Because Colchicums are toxic, they provide a natural way to repel animals such as deer, mice, squirrels, and moles.
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- When blooming, Colchicum flowers have up to six bright single or double petaled blossoms.
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- Colchicum typically blooms from September to November. Here are some just beginning to open.
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- This was the colchicum growing along the carriage road near my front gate and greenhouse two years ago – they add a nice punch of color against the green foliage.
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- Over the years, they’ve multiplied in numbers.
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- Here is the same border last year.
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- And the same border full of colchicum. I love how they dot the garden with pops of bright pink – guests always stop to look at them.
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- These plants thrive in flower beds, borders, and rock gardens, as well as on windowsills.
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- We also planted Colchicum in the Stewartia garden behind my Tenant House, across from my clematis pergola. These came from one of my favorite bulb sources, Brent and Becky’s. https://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
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- Some of the varieties we planted in this bed include ‘Lilac Wonder’, ‘Waterlily’, ‘Dick Trotter’, Colchicum byzantinum, and Colchicum bornmuelleri. This one is “Waterlily” – a double petaled cultivar.
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- I also like them to look natural, so when planting, we often toss some of the bulbs and plant them where they land. They’re best grown in a sheltered spot that enjoys afternoon sun because this encourages a good succession of wide-open flowers.
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- Most Colchicum plants produce their flowers without any foliage – this is why these flowers also go by the common name “naked ladies” or “naked boys”.
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- Beginning in mid-September, Colchicums produce large, goblet-like blooms in shades of pink, violet or white.
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- These plants are hardy in zones 4 through 9 and when planted well before the first frost, can establish a good root system before winter.
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- Colchicums are quite delicate, but spread nicely in the autumn garden with nearly perfect cup-shaped flowers.
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- If you have a chance, start planting your bulbs and include some fall-blooming colchicum in your beds – the corms produce flowers only weeks after planting. You will love them year after year.
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- And if we’re lucky, these blooms will last into November. Enjoy your fall gardens!
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